Police investigating €80,000 online investment scam

Police in Nicosia are investigating a new case of fraud and embezzlement of a sum of over €80,000.

According to a police statement a 73-year-old man filed a complaint on Sunday, stating that last July he was contacted via a telecommunications app by an unknown woman, who introduced herself as an employee of the Greek division of a European investment company.

The suspect informed the man about various opportunities available through an online platform and urged him to invest. After the 73-year-old initially told the suspect that he had already invested money on another platform, she urged him to invest through her company’s platform as well, so that he could compare profit performance.

The 73-year-old then provided access to his information so she could connect to his computer through an electronic application and create an investment account on his behalf.

The 73-year-old proceeded to transfer €84,000 to six bank accounts in abroad, with the intention to invest in cryptocurrencies, oil, and precious metals.

At the end of November, the 73-year-old contacted the woman asking to cash out €49,000 worth of cryptocurrencies in which he had invested, where after the alleged scammer cut off all contact, leading him to suspect that he had been duped.

The case is under ongoing investigation.