Lead Information Security Engineer Charuka Damunupola said internet users should remain vigilant when carrying out online financial transactions, particularly during festive seasons when cyber scams tend to increase.
He noted that during the recent Vesak and Poson periods, fraudsters had used fake online advertisements posing as popular and trusted brands to trick consumers into revealing personal and financial information.
According to SLCERT, several complaints were received regarding scams involving the collection of personal data through fraudulent advertisements and the theft of credit card information.
Damunupola advised the public to ensure that all online payments are made only through verified and official websites. He also cautioned against providing sensitive information through websites accessed via links received through SMS messages or other unsolicited communications.
SLCERT further urged internet users to carefully verify the authenticity of websites before sharing personal details or completing online transactions in order to avoid falling victim to cyber fraud.
