Sri Lanka CERT has issued a warning over a scam in which fraudsters impersonate Inland Revenue Department (IRD) officials and attempt to trick taxpayers into making payments through fraudulent links.
The warning follows a complaint by a businessman who received a phone call from a number beginning with “0113”, with the caller claiming to be from the Inland Revenue Department’s head office.
According to Sri Lanka CERT, the caller addressed the businessman by name and requested his Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). The caller then claimed that the businessman had failed to pay taxes and could face legal action unless an immediate payment was made.
To facilitate the payment, the caller said a payment link would be sent and requested the businessman’s WhatsApp number or email address. However, becoming suspicious as he was unaware of any such payment method, the businessman ended the call.
When he later attempted to call the number back, there was no response. A few minutes later, he received another call from the same number. During the second conversation, the caller allegedly became more aggressive, warning him to make the payment to avoid legal consequences.
The businessman ignored subsequent calls and reported the incident to Sri Lanka CERT.
Following inquiries, it was revealed that the Inland Revenue Department does not send payment links to taxpayers. Tax payments can only be made through authorised banking channels and official procedures.
Sri Lanka CERT warned that had the businessman followed the link and entered his details, sensitive personal information could have been compromised and money potentially stolen.
The agency urged the public to verify the authenticity of calls claiming to be from the Inland Revenue Department and to refrain from sharing personal tax information, including TIN numbers, with unknown individuals. It also advised taxpayers to obtain tax-related information only through official channels. (NewsWire)