The Consulate Office of the Republic of Lithuania in Sri Lanka has warned the public to beware of fraudsters demanding money while falsely promising jobs in Lithuania.

Issuing a statement, the Consulate said it has received numerous complaints that individuals and agents are misleading Sri Lankans by claiming employment can be secured in Lithuania on a tourist visa. 

The Consulate stressed that such promises are illegal and urged citizens not to deposit money into personal accounts or pay anyone claiming to arrange jobs abroad under these circumstances.

The Consulate emphasized that Sri Lankans seeking overseas employment must use only legally approved procedures and obtain information through agencies registered with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. All details should be verified through official channels before making payments.

“We continuously monitor information regarding fraudulent job promises and always act to raise awareness to prevent the public’s money, safety, and future from being put at risk,” Director of Consular, Diplomatic and Political Affairs, Public Relations and Communications, Kanchana Kodithuwakku, said, commenting on the matter.

He added that the Consulate works closely with the Lithuanian Embassy in New Delhi and is committed to guiding Sri Lankans toward higher education, legal employment, and other lawful projects in Lithuania. Protecting citizens from fraudsters remains a top priority.

The Consulate Office of the Republic of Lithuania in Sri Lanka has urged the public to monitor its official website and social media pages for accurate information, and to direct inquiries through official telephone numbers and email addresses. (Newswire)

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An Indian-born naturalised Sri Lankan citizen was arrested by the Kilinochchi Division Special Crime Investigation Unit in connection with a financial fraud involving Rs. 4,990,000.

Police said the 32‑year‑old suspect, originally an Indian national and resident of Kilinochchi, was taken into custody following a complaint that he defrauded a local by promising overseas employment. 

The arrest was made at noon yesterday (16) after investigations launched by the Special Crime Investigation Unit.

According to the complaint lodged at the Kilinochchi Police Station, the suspect allegedly collected nearly five million rupees under false pretenses of securing foreign employment opportunities.

Further investigations into the financial fraud are being carried out by the Kilinochchi Division Special Crime Investigation Unit. (Newswire)

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A person who defrauded money from youth by promising jobs in South Korea has been taken into custody by officials of the Special Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

According to the SLBFE, it was revealed that letters were sent to Members of Parliament stating that the Lions Club International, together with the SLBFE, had organized a program to provide jobs in South Korea, and requesting them to connect youth from their areas. 

Based on information received by SLBFE Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe, the matter was referred to the Investigation Division, and two undercover agents were deployed to gather details.

On March 28, during an introductory program at Kiyuro Advanced Education School near Rahula Junction in Matara, it was announced that youths completing language training would be placed in government‑facilitated jobs in South Korea, with a registration fee of Rs. 20,000.

It was further stated that those who registered would receive a voucher worth Rs. 35,000 from the Lions Club International for Korean language studies.

Acting on this information, investigation officers arrested the suspect on March 28 in the Matara area. He is a 49‑year‑old resident of Galle who had been working as a journalist. 

Further investigations revealed that the suspect had previously operated a language training centre named Akazuki Lanka in Galle, and had also directed trainees there into this scheme. 

It was also uncovered that the Lions Club International had no involvement in providing such jobs. In addition, evidence showed the suspect had previously engaged in a racket involving Japanese jobs.

The SLBFE stressed that the South Korean job program operates strictly between governments and that the Bureau does not collaborate with any other institutions. 

Therefore, the SLBFE urged the public not to provide money or personal information to any external parties claiming to offer South Korean jobs.

The arrested suspect was produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court on March 28 and has been remanded until April 7. (Newswire)

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A woman accused of defrauding nearly Rs. 16 million by promising jobs in Romania without a valid licence from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has been arrested after evading authorities for months.

According to the Divaina newspaper, the woman was arrested by officials of the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau recently.

The SLBFE had received 15 complaints stating that the suspect, who had previously worked in Romania, used her connections there to collect money from individuals by promising jobs but failed to deliver. 

Investigations were launched, but she evaded officers by moving between areas, including Piliyandala, Wellampitiya, Kolonnawa, and Kahathuduwa.

During the probe, four others who assisted her in the racket were arrested and produced before the court.

Investigators eventually used an undercover decoy to contact the suspect, arranging for her to sign employment agreements at a lawyer’s residence in Kolonnawa. She was arrested at that location.

After being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, she was remanded until March 3. 

Authorities are continuing investigations to determine if more individuals are involved in the scam. (Newswire)

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The Special Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has arrested five individuals involved in foreign employment fraud.

According to the SLBFE, the suspects were arrested as a result of investigations carried out during the first week of 2026. 

On January 8, 2026, officers raided an institution named Order Solutions operating in the Boralesgamuwa area without a valid license from the SLBFE, which had been posting advertisements on Facebook claiming to provide assistant jobs in factories in Dubai. 

During the raid, officials seized 10 employment contracts for Dubai, 27 applicant forms, and a computer used to prepare related documents, while one suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court on January 9 and was ordered to be remanded until January 20.

Meanwhile, on January 8, 2026, two women running an institution called Samurai Japanese Language Center were arrested by investigation officers. 

The center, located on Maharagama Road in Boralesgamuwa, had advertised on Facebook offering driver jobs in Japan while operating under the guise of a Japanese language training institute. Upon inspection, officials found a large number of forged official seals in the names of school principals, divisional secretaries, a commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department, university lecturers, and other private educational institutions. 

They also seized forged GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level certificates, along with two government-printed books containing 100 student progress reports each, which are issued only to school principals by the Ministry of Education. Further investigations revealed that the institution was teaching Japanese while preparing fake documents for unqualified individuals to be sent to Japan. It was also discovered that a relative of the women works in Japan and was facilitating these job opportunities.

The two women were arrested under charges of preparing, using, and possessing forged documents and were handed over to the Boralesgamuwa Police. 

They were produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court on January 9 and were ordered to be remanded until January 19. (Newswire)

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Two individuals, including a retired Army Colonel, have been arrested in connection with a large-scale foreign employment scam that defrauded nearly Rs. 20 million from job seekers by promising employment opportunities in several European countries.

According to the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), the suspects operated under a registered agency named FC International in Negombo, claiming to secure jobs in the hospitality sector in Hungary, the Netherlands, and Finland.

Investigations revealed that while the agency had obtained approval for job placements in Hungary, no official requests or job orders existed for hospitality positions. The SLBFE said it had received around 20 complaints from victims across the country who had paid large sums but were never provided the promised jobs.

Following investigations, officers arrested two suspects, a resident of Mawanella with long-standing experience in the foreign employment sector and a retired Army Colonel residing in Kadawatha, in operations carried out in Mawanella and Imbulgoda.

The main suspects, including the owner of FC International, her husband, and the agency’s manager, have reportedly gone into hiding following the arrests. The court has imposed a travel ban on them while efforts are underway to apprehend the fugitives.

The arrested suspects were produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court and remanded until October 10. Meanwhile, the SLBFE has suspended the agency’s operating licence pending further investigations.

The operation was led by Chief Inspector Ariyawansa, with Inspectors S.K.K. Madushanka and Alwis, and Investigation Officers Idunil Pushpakumara and Sergeant Dahanayake.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Employment, Arun Hemachandra, said the Special Police Unit continues to receive a growing number of complaints related to foreign employment scams. 

The public has been urged to report any information regarding fraudulent foreign job agencies or individuals to the SLBFE Special Investigation Unit via 011-2882228. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has warned the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent job scams that promise high salaries for minimal work.

Officials said that scammers are increasingly targeting vulnerable individuals through flashy advertisements and online promotions, often demanding registration fees or deposits in the name of employment.

They further said that once victims fall for the trap, they risk losing money, exposing personal information, or, in some cases, even becoming victims of human trafficking.

SLCERT has urged job seekers to verify employers through official channels, including company websites and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) for overseas opportunities. The agency stressed that legitimate jobs do not require upfront payments or deposits.

Authorities further advised the public to carefully review contracts, confirm overseas offers with embassies or trusted agencies, and rely on their instincts when an offer appears too good to be true.

Meanwhile, SLCERT has also launched an awareness campaign across social media platforms to educate citizens on identifying such scams and staying safe online. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has arrested an individual for defrauding over Rs. 150 million, promising jobs in South Korea. 

According to the Police, the man was arrested in the Tharekulam area in Poovarasankulam, Mullaitivu, yesterday.

The suspect is a 41-year-old resident of Colombo 15. 

Investigations reveal that the man had defrauded over Rs. 150 million from 150 persons, promising jobs in South Korea. 

During the arrest, the Police seized a Jeep, an Attorney’s Licence for a land, and two mobile phones from the suspect’s possession. 

The CCD is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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A 45-year-old Colombo resident has been arrested for defrauding Rs. 1,340,000 from the public promising to send them overseas in the first two months of 2025.

The Police said a probe had been launched after the Narahenpita Police had received three complaints in this regard.

The accused woman, a resident of Colombo 05, was arrested after arriving at the Narahenpita Police Station yesterday. 

Further investigations have found that complaints have been filed against the woman at the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau, as well as Police Stations in Wellawatte, Wadduwa, Meegahawatte, Habaraduwa, and Giriulla. 

The Narahenpita Police is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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A scam involving fake job advertisements using logos of state institutions is circulating on social media, aiming to steal personal data.

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) reporting a surge in such incidents, urged the public to remain vigilant of such scams.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has issued a warning about a fraudulent job advertisement using its logo, while a similar fake job postings using the SriLankan Airlines logo have also been reported.

CERT Senior Information Security Engineer Charuka Damunupola urged the public not to respond to these fraudulent ads.

He warned that these fake websites often steal personal information such as copies of National Identity Cards, passports, and birth certificates. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara’s brother Thisara Nanayakkara, who was arrested over allegations of financially defrauding people promising foreign jobs, has been granted bail. 

The Gampaha Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to Thisara Nanayakkara, while it also imposed a travel ban on him. 

Thisara Nanayakkara was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 28 December 2024 in connection with the alleged financial fraud.

The arrest was made in the Bibile area following a complaint regarding a financial scam involving promises of foreign employment opportunities in Finland.

He is accused of having allegedly demanded Rs. 4 million, out of which Rs. 3 million had been collected, under the pretence of securing foreign employment for individuals. (Newswire)

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A 64-year-old man has been apprehended on charges of financially defrauding the public by promising jobs in Australia.

The Police said the man, who had defrauded Rs. 01 million from the public, had been arrested based on a tip-off received by the Moratuwa Police.

The arrested suspect is a 64-year-old resident of the Gampaha area. The Moratuwa Police is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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A 31-year-old man accused of financially defrauding Rs. 1.3 million from the public promising jobs in Japan, was arrested by the Horana Police on Saturday.

The Police said the man, who is a resident of Ratnapura and against whom there were four Police complaints, was arrested in Horana and remanded until  Friday (Oct 11) by the Horana Magistrate’s Court.

Following his arrest and remand, the Horana Police had received nine more complaints against him, with investigations finding that he had defrauded Rs. 3,967,500 from the public. 

The man has been identified as the suspect wanted concerning complaints over financial fraud received at the Dehiaththakandiya, Bulathsinhala, Mathugama, Thebuwana, Beliatta, Morawaka, Tangalle, and Wellawaya Police Stations. 

The Horana Police is conducting investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police have sought the assistance of the public to find a suspect wanted for defrauding the public over Rs. 17.5 million promising jobs in England and Poland. 

According to the Police, the suspect had defrauded people from various areas via his foreign employment agency, IMH LOGISTICS (PVT) LTD operated at the Jana Jaya City building in Rajagiriya.

A female suspect has been arrested and produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court following a probe launched by the Mirihana Special Crimes Investigation Unit into the fraud. 

Interrogation of the female suspect uncovered information about the financial fraud conducted by the foreign employment agency owner, identified as Fernando. 

The Police said information is yet to be ascertained on the suspect’s address and other details. 

The public with information on the suspect has been requested to contact the Police via 071-8591643 or 071-8137373. (Newswire)

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Three persons who had defrauded over Rs. 10 million from 140 individuals promising jobs in Russia have been arrested by the Police, it was reported.

According to Lankadeepa Newspaper, the suspects had operated a foreign employment agency which was not registered with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

The Moratuwa Police Headquarters had revealed that among the suspects was an individual who had operated a driving school. 

An inspection of the suspect’s driving school had led to the Police officials finding the passports of 39 persons and a large number of forged documents, resulting in busting the employment racket.

Complaints filed by the victims have revealed that the suspects had obtained between Rs. 600,000 to Rs. 1.4 million per person promising overseas jobs.

The victims further stated that people from Colombo and other highly populated areas had fallen victim to the financial scam.

The Police said the suspects are residents of Katubedda in Moratuwa. (Newswire)

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A foreign employment agency in Negombo has been found to have defrauded a large sum of money from the public by promising employment in Romania. 

A tense situation was reported before the foreign employment agency after the applicants were informed that their work permits had been cancelled. 

Speaking to the media, the affected individuals said they had made payments between Rs. 800,000 to Rs. 1 million to the agency in hopes of securing jobs in Romania.

Stating that there were over 120 applicants who had already made the cash payments, they said that after having been convened for a meeting by the agency on Sunday, they were informed that their work permits had been cancelled. 

The victims further claimed that the agency had informed them of this at a time when they had already received their offer letters and work permits and were preparing to face the relevant job-related interviews. 

Some of the victims revealed that they had been informed that they could only reclaim their money after the conclusion of a court case. (Newswire)

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A bag containing nearly 180 passports has been retrieved from a drain in the Maharagama area, it was reported.

Police investigations have revealed that a foreign employment agency in Maharagama had obtained the passports.

It is reported that the agency’s owner had defrauded close to Rs. 260 million from people seeking overseas employment.

The agency’s owner is said to have fled the area after defrauding the money. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) says its special investigation unit has received 1371 complaints concerning overseas employment scams within the first four months of this year (2024).

Issuing a statement, the SLBFE said the complaints include jobs being offered by institutions that are not registered with the SLBFE, collection of money by unregistered employment agencies, and sending people overseas for employment under tourist visas. 

The SLBFE further said that 495 of the complaints have been resolved as of now, while investigation officers have been able to return over Rs. 53 million to the affected persons. 

Steps have been taken to initiate legal action against fraudsters concerning another 680 complaints, the SLBFE revealed. 

According to the SLBFE, 28 suspects have been arrested and produced in courts over job scams, while eight institutions that had operated without valid documents have been raided. (Newswire)

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Concerns were raised in Parliament today over the various reports of local employment rackets through which Sri Lankans were being recruited for the Russian and Ukrainian Military forces. 

Addressing the Parliament, MP Dayasiri Jayasekara revealed that several Sri Lankans were being duped into being recruited as General Camp Helpers of the Russian Military, but were being deployed on the war front. 

He further said that some Sri Lankans were being recruited to fight for the Russian Military, while some others were being duped into being recruited as General Camp Helpers for the Russian Military.

Stating that there was a large-scale racket being carried out in this regard, MP Jayasekara said most of these Sri Lankans are being tricked into fighting the Russian war.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara further said that information has also come to light that the racketeers have obtained nearly Rs.1.8 million from those being recruited. 

The MP pointed out that the key issue of this racket is the fact that Sri Lankan military personnel are being pitted against each other, as they are being forced to fight for Russia and Ukraine which are at war.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned what measures the government has taken to prevent such illegal recruitments, if the government was aware of those carrying out such rackets, and how many Sri Lankans have been recruited thus far.

Responding to the questions, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the Police has received information that the recruitments are being conducted by institutions operating as employment agencies. 

He further said that information has been received that the racketeers are offering other job opportunities in Ukraine and Russia, but upon reaching the countries, the Sri Lankans are being deployed to fight in the war. 

“The Police have already commenced investigations into the matter. The Foreign Employment Ministry has also conducted some investigations in this regard,” he said.

The Justice Minister added that further information will be provided to the Parliament via the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles.

Concerns have been raised, as two persons, including a retired Sri Lanka Army Major, were recently apprehended over a financial scam promising jobs in the Russian Military.

The two men were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department for fraudulently obtaining money from individuals on the promise of sending them for employment in the Russian army.

The arrests came against the backdrop of reports in the recent past of several Sri Lankans fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine, while three Sri Lankans were also reported killed while fighting for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion last year. (Newswire)

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Two persons, including a retired Sri Lanka Army Major, have been apprehended over a financial scam promising jobs in the Russian Military.

According to the Police, the two men were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today. 

They were apprehended for fraudulently obtaining money from individuals on the promise of sending them for employment in the Russian army. 

The arrests come against the backdrop of reports in the recent past of several Sri Lankans fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Three Sri Lankans were also reported killed while fighting for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion last year.

In March this year, international media Al Jazeera reported that hundreds of Sri Lankans are now serving with the Russian military in Ukraine.

Several Sri Lankans living in Russia told Al Jazeera that most were lured into combat by Russia’s offer of salaries up to $3,000 a month and the prospect of Russian citizenship. (Newswire/ File pic)

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