Cyprus police issue warning regarding WhatsApp phone scams

The Cyprus Police have issued a formal warning to the public regarding ongoing telephone scams conducted through the WhatsApp messaging application. Fraudsters are contacting citizens in English, impersonating police officials and using photos of the Chief of Police in their profile to increase credibility. The scams involve callers requesting sensitive banking details, personal passwords, or one-time codes (OTP) from victims. Authorities emphasize that the police do not request financial information or passwords via messaging apps. Additionally, reports indicate that scammers may use genuine local telephone numbers, leading to situations where victims call back unsuspecting residents whose identities have been misused. Police advise the public not to answer such calls, avoid clicking external links, and refrain from disclosing any personal data. Individuals who have already shared sensitive information are urged to contact their financial institutions immediately for protection. The public should treat all such suspicious communications with caution, regardless of the phone number displayed on the screen.