Limassol, Cyprus. A 59-year-old man lost €90,000 after falling victim to an online car sale scam, police said on Tuesday. The case was reported to Limassol police and is under investigation by the financial crime investigation office.
Details of the scam
The man recently saw a vehicle advertised for sale on an online buying and selling platform and contacted the company that appeared to be offering it.
After discussions with the alleged seller, he agreed to buy the car for €90,000, including transportation costs from another European country to Cyprus.
Following instructions from the supposed sellers, he transferred the money to a bank account in a third European country.
Discovery and investigation
After carrying out further checks online, the man found that the company was not genuine and discovered that he had been deceived.
Police said the report was made on Tuesday and that the financial crime investigation office is examining the case.
Police warning
Police urged the public to be cautious when conducting transactions online, especially when dealing with unknown individuals or organisations.
They advised consumers to verify sellers’ identities and legitimacy before making payments and to be careful with large money transfers to foreign accounts.
The warning comes amid ongoing reports of online fraud involving fake sales, investment schemes and other scams.
