Man loses €2,326 to fake police fine text scam in Cyprus
A 52-year-old man was defrauded of €2,326 after following a link in a text message that mimicked a Cyprus Police fine notice, prompting a fresh warning from authorities.
Cyprus Police have issued another alert over fraudulent text messages posing as official fine notices, as reported by Cyprus Mail. The latest victim, a 52-year-old man, filed a complaint with Nicosia CID after losing €2,326.
The message he received claimed he owed money for traffic violations, and the link inside it led to a site designed to look like a genuine police portal. He entered his bank card information there to settle the supposed debt, and his bank later notified him of the charge.
The Financial Crime Investigation Unit at Nicosia CID is handling the case. Police stressed that they never request fine payments through messages or any other channel.
What it means for residents
This scam targets the routine fear of unpaid fines, so anyone on the island who drives or owns a vehicle could be a mark. The practical takeaway is simple: treat any unexpected payment demand by text as hostile until proven otherwise.
- Verify before you click If a message claims to be from police, contact the force through its official published channels instead of using any link provided.
- Never enter card details Official bodies do not collect fines through unfamiliar websites, so any page asking for banking information should be closed immediately.
- Report and check If you have already shared details, inform your bank without delay and file a complaint with police so the Financial Crime Investigation Unit can trace the fraud.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
