The Cyprus Police have issued a fresh warning over telephone scams carried out through WhatsApp, in which fraudsters pose as representatives of the force. To appear more convincing, the callers use the photograph of the Chief of Police as their profile picture.
How the scam works
The perpetrators place calls via WhatsApp to unsuspecting citizens, claiming to be contacting them on behalf of the Police. The fraudsters appear to be using different telephone numbers, and the conversations are conducted in English.
The Police stress that these calls are fraudulent and do not originate from the Cyprus Police. The force reminds the public that it does not request personal or banking details, passwords or any financial transaction via WhatsApp or other messaging applications.
Police guidance to the public
The Police urge the public to be particularly cautious and:
- NOT to respond to the calls or follow instructions given by the fraudsters.
- NOT to click on any links that may be sent.
- NOT to disclose passwords, bank account details, one-time passwords (OTPs) or other personal data.
Anyone who has disclosed banking or other sensitive information during such a call should immediately notify their bank so that the necessary protective measures can be taken.
Numbers may change
An image accompanying the Police announcement shows two of the telephone numbers used by the scammers. The force notes that these numbers may change, and the public should therefore treat any similar communication with caution, regardless of the number displayed on screen.
Source: Cyprus Police
