Police in Paphos investigate a 48,000 euro phishing scam involving fake GHS messages

The Paphos police department is investigating a case of online fraud resulting in the theft of 48,000 euros. On April 28, 2026, a 60-year-old victim received a text message disguised as an official communication from the General Healthcare System (GHS). The message claimed that the user's profile required an update and provided a link to a fraudulent website. Upon following the link, the victim was prompted to enter personal identification and banking details for a supposed verification payment. After the information was submitted, perpetrators illicitly accessed the victim's bank account and withdrew 48,000 euros. The case is currently being handled by the Economic Crime Investigation Office of the Paphos CID. The Health Insurance Organization has issued a reminder that it never requests passwords, login credentials, or payment details via SMS. Officials advise the public to verify all electronic communications through official channels and to avoid entering personal data on unknown websites.