Cyprus: Fraud via malicious software – €2,992 stolen from account
A citizen in Nicosia fell victim to a telephone scam, resulting in the loss of nearly €3,000 from his bank account via an application he installed on his mobile phone.
Cyprus: Fraud via malicious software – €2,992 stolen from account
Police are investigating an incident of online fraud and theft of money from a bank account, following a complaint filed with the Crime Detection Department in Nicosia.
The victim reported that on 26 May, she received a call from a woman speaking English with an Asian accent. The unknown caller presented herself as an employee of a digital financial transaction service. Claiming to be interested in the security of the victim's account on the digital platform, she persuaded her to download a specific application on her smartphone.
This programme functioned as a "Trojan horse", allowing the perpetrator to infiltrate the device and gain control of the victim's online banking accounts. In this way, the fraudster managed to obtain the sum of €2,992.
Following the incident, the authorities issued a warning to the public. They emphasise that access to electronic devices and bank accounts should not be granted to strangers. Personal data and banking information should be protected and never disclosed to third parties.
The authorities advise citizens to always verify the authenticity of any call or message they receive, using only official and recognised communication channels of the relevant organisations.
Source: Philenews
Source: Philenews