Police and health authorities warn of rising online fraud schemes

The Cyprus Police and the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) have issued warnings regarding an increase in phishing scams impersonating the General Healthcare System (Gesy). Perpetrators are sending deceptive SMS messages claiming that recipients must update their profiles via a provided link, which leads to fraudulent websites designed to steal banking credentials. In a specific incident reported to the Paphos Criminal Investigation Department (TAE), a 60-year-old victim lost 48,000 euros on April 28, 2026, after inputting sensitive information into such a site. Authorities noted that malicious messages often appear in threads alongside legitimate communications from Gesy, increasing the likelihood of user deception. Additionally, police report a separate wave of telephone scams where callers impersonate financial platforms to solicit data. The HIO emphasizes that it never requests passwords, login credentials, or payments via SMS or external links. The public is urged to verify all communications through official channels and avoid interacting with suspicious hyperlinks.