The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has renewed its warning to the public over the growing threat of online scams that use urgency and fear to trick victims into making hasty decisions.
As part of its ongoing “Be Scam Proof” public awareness campaign, the Central Bank identified pressure tactics as a key indicator of fraudulent activity, noting that scammers often attempt to force individuals into acting immediately before they have time to verify the information.
To illustrate the tactic, the campaign features a sample message reading, “Act Now! Your account will be suspended in 1 hour,” highlighting how fraudsters create panic by issuing fake warnings.
According to the Central Bank, scammers commonly use threatening language, strict deadlines, and false claims relating to bank accounts, financial services, or personal information to deceive people into clicking malicious links, disclosing sensitive details, or transferring money.
The CBSL urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid making rushed decisions, and verify suspicious messages before taking any action.
