Series of online fraud cases reported across Cyprus

Cypriot authorities are investigating a surge in online fraud cases reported between early July and mid-August 2026. In Paphos, a 26-year-old woman lost over €4,800 after clicking a fraudulent link in an SMS posing as the government platform GOV.CY, which claimed she had an outstanding fine. Separately, in Nicosia, a 32-year-old woman was defrauded of more than €2,200 after being misled by an individual posing as a property landlord into canceling a legitimate booking for a fake alternative. Additionally, another victim in Nicosia reported losing €10,000 to a fraudulent loan advertisement on social media; the perpetrators instructed her to transfer the funds via a QR code as a 'guarantee' for the loan.

Police have linked these incidents to a broader trend of social engineering, vishing, and phishing attacks. The authorities warn the public against opening unsolicited links, sharing personal banking credentials, or transferring money to unknown entities. Investigations into these cases are currently being handled by local Criminal Investigation Departments (CID) and economic crime units, with police emphasizing that no official government or banking correspondence will request sensitive data or payments through these methods.