Cyprus Under Attack: Rise in Cyber Fraud Types Warned by Police

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Cyprus authorities have issued a warning about an alarming surge in various types of cyberfraud, with Nicosia being particularly affected. The police reported numerous instances of electronic fraud, including cases of communication between suppliers and customers, banking fraud, romance scams, and fake websites.

How Scammers Operate

• Fraudsters often use the name of a legitimate company and alter its web or email address by inserting a hyphen or period to deceive victims into thinking they are dealing with a reputable entity.
• In other cases, scammers set up fake websites that sell items that never arrive at customers’ doorsteps.

Types of Scams

• Romance scams: Perpetrators promise online relationships but eventually demand increasing sums of money from their unwitting targets.
• Cryptocurrency investment scams: Fraudsters approach people via email or text to invest in cryptocurrency platforms with the promise of significant returns.
• Phishing scams: Fraudsters send fake emails or SMS messages claiming to be from banks and ask customers to enter their bank account codes for the purpose of upgrading services.

How to Avoid Falling Victim

• Be well-informed about cyber fraud types and tactics.
• Verify information before taking any action online.
• Don’t trust everything you see online, and seek expert advice on investments.
• Ignore emails or SMS messages claiming to be from banks asking for personal details or codes.

Important Reminder from the Police

“The public should be aware that banks will never ask for personal details or codes via email or SMS,” said the police. “If you receive such a message, ignore it and do not respond.”

For more information and tips on how to stay safe from cyber fraud, citizens are encouraged to visit the website www.Cyberalert.cy.