Authorities in Cyprus warn against rising digital and telephonic fraud

Cypriot authorities and financial institutions have issued urgent warnings regarding a surge in phishing and social engineering attacks targeting citizens. The Cyprus Police confirmed on August 5, 2026, that fraudulent SMS messages are being circulated, claiming that recipients have unpaid traffic violations and must settle fines via suspicious links to avoid legal action. The police clarified that they never send notifications regarding traffic tickets via text message and urged citizens to delete these messages immediately without clicking any embedded links.

Simultaneously, the Bank of Cyprus warned on August 6, 2026, about ongoing phone scams where perpetrators impersonate staff from PayPal or other legitimate organizations. Fraudsters typically claim there is suspicious activity on a victim's account and request sensitive information such as banking credentials, One-Time Passwords (OTP), or bank card details, or pressure users to transfer funds to so-called "safe" accounts. The bank reiterated that no legitimate institution will ever ask for such credentials over the phone or demand remote access to a user's device. Citizens are advised to remain vigilant and avoid installing unauthorized applications or disclosing personal data to unsolicited callers.