Cyber fraud incident reported involving fake tax department email

On May 18, the Nicosia Criminal Investigation Department (TAE) received a report regarding a phishing scam. A citizen received an email from an individual posing as a representative of the Tax Department, requesting the recipient's online banking access credentials. After the victim provided these details, unauthorized withdrawals totaling 2,517 euros were made from their bank account. The case is currently under investigation by the Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Nicosia Police. Authorities have issued a warning to the public, stressing that government agencies never solicit bank passwords or personal credentials via email. Citizens are advised to ignore such messages, verify the authenticity of senders, and only use official government platforms for transactions. The police emphasize the importance of data security and urge immediate deletion of suspicious electronic communications.