Nicosia resident defrauded by scammer posing as police officer

A 52-year-old resident of Nicosia was defrauded after receiving a video call via a social media application from an individual impersonating a member of the Cyprus Police. The perpetrator, who claimed to represent the Immigration Department, displayed a fake police identification card to gain the victim's trust. During the call, the scammer persuaded the victim to disclose personal information and banking credentials. Consequently, a significant sum of money was stolen from the victim's account. The Nicosia Criminal Investigation Department (TAE) is currently investigating the case. The Cyprus Police have issued a formal warning, clarifying that they never contact citizens via social media apps to request sensitive personal or banking data. Authorities advise the public to refrain from sharing credentials and to immediately contact their banking institution if they believe they have been targeted.