Sri Lanka Police has warned the public about a growing number of financial scams and cybercrimes carried out through social media platforms using photographs of police officers, fake WhatsApp accounts and fraudulent online profiles to gain the trust of victims.
In a public notice, the police said a number of complaints had been received regarding fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers and government officials to obtain personal information and money from unsuspecting individuals.
Investigations into such incidents have led to the arrest of suspects on several occasions. However, authorities said financial fraud, identity theft and cybercrime committed through computers and mobile devices continue to increase.
According to the police, scammers commonly contact victims via telephone while falsely claiming to represent institutions such as the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or specialised police units.
Victims are often told that fraudulent transactions have been carried out using their National Identity Card, that bank cards have been issued in their name without their knowledge, or that their accounts have been linked to money laundering investigations.
Fraudsters then attempt to intimidate victims by claiming legal action is imminent before offering assistance and directing them to communicate through WhatsApp or other social media platforms. In some cases, forged documents, fake official insignia and photographs of government officials are used to create an appearance of legitimacy.
Police said scammers also attempt to obtain One-Time Passwords (OTPs), banking credentials and other confidential information under the guise of verifying identities, resolving complaints or releasing allegedly frozen bank accounts.
Victims may also be pressured into transferring money to unfamiliar bank accounts or purchasing and transferring cryptocurrencies such as USDT.
Sri Lanka Police emphasised that no government institution or private organisation would request National Identity Card details, bank account information, card numbers, CVV numbers, passwords or OTP codes through telephone calls, WhatsApp or social media platforms.
Police further stressed that neither the Sri Lanka Police, the CID, nor the Central Bank conducts official investigations through personal WhatsApp accounts or requests members of the public to transfer money in connection with investigations.
Authorities also warned the public against opening internet links, downloading applications, accessing websites or scanning QR codes sent by unknown individuals or unverified social media groups.
Members of the public have been urged to independently verify any suspicious communication through the official contact channels of the relevant institution and to report suspected scams to the nearest police station.
Complaints related to cybercrime and financial fraud can also be reported to the Computer Crime Investigation Division through its dedicated hotlines or by submitting a written complaint directly to the Criminal Investigation Department.
Police urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid sharing personal or financial information with unknown parties in order to prevent further incidents of fraud and cybercrime. (Newswire)
