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A new online scam has cost a resident €24,800 after fraudsters tricked the victim into handing over access to her bank account, police said on Tuesday.
The case, now under investigation by the Nicosia Financial Crimes Investigation Unit, began on May 19 when the woman received a phone call from people claiming to represent an online payment platform and her bank. She was told her accounts had been “compromised” and that immediate action was needed to stop alleged suspicious activity.
Believing the warning was genuine, the woman followed their instructions and shared the login details to her online banking account. The scammers then used the access to transfer and steal €24,800.
Police said the incident is another example of a growing wave of online fraud, where criminals rely on fear and urgency to pressure victims into revealing sensitive information.
Authorities are once again urging the public not to share passwords, PINs, or banking codes with anyone over the phone, no matter how convincing the caller may sound. They also stressed that legitimate banks and organizations will never ask for login credentials or sensitive personal data in this way.
Officials are advising citizens to hang up and verify any suspicious calls directly through official contact channels before taking any action.
