Larnaca police investigate €38,000 email fraud case

Police in Larnaca are investigating a cyber fraud case in which perpetrators successfully extorted more than 38,000 euros from a local company. The scammers gained unauthorized access to the company’s email system to intercept communications.

By impersonating a business partner, the fraudsters sent a fraudulent email requesting a payment of 38,650 euros for a supposed previous commercial transaction. Following the instructions in the email, the victim company transferred the funds to a bank account provided in the message. The deception was only discovered after the company contacted its actual partner, who confirmed they had not sent the request and that the bank account did not belong to them.

The Economic Crime Investigation Office in Larnaca is currently handling the investigation. In response to the incident, police are urging citizens and business owners to verify any payment requests via telephone using previously established contact numbers before transferring funds. They also recommend that company directors train staff to recognize these types of invoice scams.