The Sri Lanka Police have issued an urgent advisory to the public, warning of a significant surge in sophisticated financial scams and cybercrimes targeting citizens via social media. These fraudulent schemes frequently involve the misappropriation of photographs of real police officers to establish a false sense of authority and trust. By creating fake profiles on platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, scammers are successfully deceiving unsuspecting individuals, leading to a rise in identity theft and organized financial fraud across the country.
Investigations conducted by the authorities have confirmed that criminals are increasingly leveraging computers and mobile devices to orchestrate these scams. The modus operandi typically involves fraudsters contacting victims via phone or messaging apps while falsely claiming to represent the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), or other specialized investigative branches. To maintain this facade, perpetrators often send forged documents, official insignia, and counterfeit correspondence designed to intimidate victims into compliance.
The tactics employed by these groups are designed to instill fear and urgency. Scammers often allege that a victim’s National Identity Card has been linked to illicit activities, such as money laundering, or claim that a bank account has been compromised and requires immediate intervention. Under the guise of “assisting” with these fabricated investigations, the fraudsters pressure targets to disclose sensitive information, including One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and banking credentials. In some cases, victims are coerced into transferring funds to unknown accounts or converting their assets into cryptocurrencies like USDT.
To combat this trend, the Sri Lanka Police have emphasized that no legitimate government or private institution will ever request personal banking details, passwords, or OTPs over the phone or through social media messaging. The authorities have clarified that official investigations are never conducted via personal WhatsApp accounts and that the police do not charge citizens fees for any investigative services. Uniformed officers will officially appear in person or issue formal, written notifications if there is a genuine legal matter, rendering any digital-only “investigation” immediately suspicious.
The department has provided a comprehensive list of protective measures for the public to adopt. Citizens are strongly urged to independently verify any alarming claims by contacting their banks or the relevant government institution directly using official phone numbers found on legitimate websites. Furthermore, the public is cautioned against interacting with suspicious internet links, QR codes, or unrecognized digital applications. Any document received via social media that contains government signatures or logos should be treated as a potential forgery and reported to the nearest police station immediately.
For those who believe they have been targeted by or have information regarding these criminal enterprises, the Computer Crime Investigation Division has established direct channels for reporting. Victims or concerned citizens can reach the department at 011 2300756 or via the dedicated supervision hotlines at 071 8592918 and 071 8591765. Alternatively, individuals may choose to visit the Criminal Investigation Department in person to file a formal written complaint, ensuring that law enforcement can act swiftly to dismantle these organized fraud rings.