email fraud — A 27-year-old man from Larnaca has been sentenced to two years in prison for committing internet fraud, specifically embezzling €10,000 through an elaborate email scam.
- email fraud — A 27-year-old man from Larnaca has been sentenced to two years in prison for committing internet fraud, specifically embezzling €10,000 through an elaborate email scam.
The Larnaca district court delivered the sentence on Friday after a thorough trial, which was spurred by an investigation from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The case revolved around a sophisticated scheme known as “email interception,” which targeted local businesses.
In this scam, the perpetrators managed to illegally disrupt email communications between two companies. They sent a fraudulent email that included altered bank details, successfully diverting a monetary transfer into an account controlled by the scammers.
The fraudulent activity came to light on June 28, 2023, when the incident was reported to Larnaca police. Following this report, a detailed investigation was launched, leading to the identification of the 27-year-old suspect. His arrest took place on July 13, 2023, after a protracted inquiry.
Police officials have since emphasised the importance of vigilance for business owners, urging them to confirm any changes to bank account information through secondary communication channels. This recommendation aims to prevent similar scams from victimising more businesses in the future.
