Online scams doubles in a year, police increase crackdowns

 

 

In the wake of online scams doubling in a year with thousands of individuals becoming victims, Sri Lanka Police have increased crackdown on such frauds carried out by both locals and foreigners.

Police Spokesman ASP F. U. Wootler warned the public of a sharp increase in financial irregularities and fraudulent activities carried out through the Internet, particularly via social media platforms.

Addressing the issue, he said that Sri Lanka Police receive numerous complaints on a daily basis regarding online financial fraud, especially those committed through platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social media groups and accounts.

ASP Wootler said that a total of 1,528 complaints related to online scams were reported in 2024, leading to the arrest of 442 suspects.

He said that last year, complaints related to online scams doubled to 3,100, while 314 suspects were arrested in connection with these incidents.

The involvement of foreign nationals in organised scam networks within Sri Lanka reached a critical point in 2025. Between mid-2024 and early 2025, over 200 foreign nationals, primarily from China, India, and Thailand, were arrested for operating large-scale cybercrime hubs from hotels and private residences in areas such as Colombo, Negombo, and Gampaha.

The spokesman said that 146 foreign nationals were arrested last year alone in connection with online scams.

These international syndicates often entered the country on tourist visas to establish so-called “scamming camps” targeting both local and foreign victims.

The complexity of these operations prompted the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to seek specialised assistance from China’s Special Criminal Investigation Unit in September 2024 to combat a surge in online financial fraud, particularly involving Chinese nationals, and to overcome language barriers related to seized digital devices.

ASP Wootler said that stern action would be taken against suspects involved in online scams and fraud following investigations carried out by the newly established Cybercrimes Prevention Unit at the CID headquarters.

He added that the Cybercrimes Prevention Unit (CPU) is fully equipped to handle cases involving scams, phishing, and other illegal activities conducted through social media platforms.

Recognising the seriousness of the situation, police have taken steps this year to strengthen law enforcement action and enhance public awareness.

According to ASP Wootler, fraudsters often deceive victims into revealing confidential information such as bank account details, usernames, passwords, One-Time Passwords (OTPs), and QR codes. These criminals typically operate under the guise of offering online employment opportunities, investment schemes, easy loans, or other financial benefits, and subsequently instruct victims to deposit money into various accounts.

Police have identified several common types of online financial fraud reported in Sri Lanka, including fake social media accounts impersonating well-known individuals or institutions, online loan scams promising instant or no-repayment loans, phishing links sent in the name of banks or service providers, fake online job offers, romance and relationship scams, cryptocurrency and forex investment frauds, lottery and prize scams, online shopping frauds, and schemes targeting children and elderly persons.

The Police Spokesman urged the public to remain vigilant when using the Internet and advised against sharing banking details, passwords, PIN numbers, OTPs, or personal documents with unknown individuals. He also cautioned against clicking suspicious links, installing applications from unverified sources, scanning QR codes sent by unknown parties, or transferring money online without verifying the identity of the recipient.

ASP Wootler further advised the public to use only trusted and verified online platforms, to check for official verification badges on social media pages, and to immediately report any suspected online financial fraud to the Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Sri Lanka CERT) has received more than 12,650 complaints related to social media misuse and cybersecurity incidents in 2025.

According to Sri Lanka CERT, this represents a significant rise in online fraud, digital fraud, and cyber harassment compared to previous years.

Charuka Damunupola, Lead Information Security Engineer of Sri Lanka CERT, said that a significant proportion of the complaints involve fake accounts, hacked accounts, and financial scams carried out through social media platforms.