Police on Thursday again advised the public to exercise caution when receiving phone calls from individuals pretending to be government officials and asking for credit card and bank account information.

In a statement, the police spoke of an ongoing phone scam where individuals, calling either from landlines or mobile phones, pose as functionaries at government services – including from the Social Insurance Services, the tax department and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus.

The callers instruct prospective victims that they need to take certain actions, and ask for credit card PIN passwords, identity card information or bank account numbers.

Police said members of the public should not answer calls from unknown numbers and, if they do, never give out such information.

People should not follow any of the callers’ instructions, but if in doubt call and check with the relevant departments which the callers claim to be representing.