Cyprus police have issued a warning regarding a surge in telephone scams involving automated calls falsely purporting to be from PayPal. The scam uses recorded messages urging recipients to take urgent action by pressing numbers on their phone to verify suspicious transactions, which then directs victims to fake websites to steal personal and financial information.

Authorities report that the calls originate from abroad, complicating investigations, and note that scammers frequently change tactics, now targeting PayPal but potentially shifting to other entities like Gesy or even impersonating police. The cybercrime unit is actively monitoring and investigating these reports.

Police advise the public to remain cautious, avoid pressing any numbers or following links in unsolicited calls, and never share sensitive details. Legitimate organisations do not request passwords or banking information via such calls. Anyone suspecting they have been targeted is urged to contact their bank directly and report the scam to authorities promptly.