Sri Lanka Police has issued a public advisory warning of possible online fraud during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season.
According to the Police, with increased use of the internet for purchases, payments, and other transactions during this period, criminals are exploiting the opportunity to carry out financial scams and data theft.
The Police state fraudulent advertisements, fake links, “Avurudu offers”, and giveaways, bogus commercial websites, fake bank promotions, phishing emails and SMS messages, caller ID spoofing, and QR code scams are among the methods identified.
Investigations in past years have shown that some individuals, driven by financial hardship or the lure of quick profits, have fallen victim to such schemes.
The Police also cautioned that fraudsters often use images of high‑ranking officials, including the President and Prime Minister, to build trust and deceive the public.
The advisory warns that sensitive data obtained through these scams can be misused for phishing attacks, financial fraud, and identity theft.
The Police further urged the public to remain vigilant and exercise caution when conducting online transactions to avoid falling prey to such fraudulent activities. (Newswire)