Police said it has received multiple complaints across the country regarding fraudulent money transfers carried out through social media platforms and phone calls.
Authorities say scammers are increasingly targeting individuals by offering fake job opportunities, prize draws, or making false accusations to coerce victims into transferring money.
Investigations revealed that fraudsters often obtain confidential information such as bank account numbers, OTPs, passwords, and QR codes through deceptive tactics, including suspicious internet links and scan codes. In recent days, the Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Division and Padukka Police have reported cases where scammers impersonated bank employees, called account holders, and claimed that drug traffickers had deposited money into their accounts. Victims were then intimidated into transferring funds to accounts controlled by the criminals.
The police have previously warned the public not to fall prey to such schemes. They advise individuals to check verified badges and official pages, avoid sharing bank details, NIC numbers, login credentials, OTPs, PINs, or personal photos, and use only trusted accounts. Additionally, citizens should always verify identities before depositing money and immediately report any suspicious activity to the Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department.
The police have provided contact numbers for anyone with information regarding these frauds:
- Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Division: 011-2852556
- OIC, Mirihana Division: 075-3994214
- Deputy Director, Computer Crime Investigation Division: 011-2300638
- Personal Assistant, Computer Crime Investigation Division: 011-2381375
- OIC, Computer Crime Investigation Division: 011-2381058
Police urged the public to remain vigilant and follow these safety measures to prevent becoming victims of online and phone scams.
