Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) has warned the public against fraudulent social media advertisements offering admission to foreign universities.
In a statement issued yesterday, Sri Lanka CERT said it had received complaints from several parents and students who had lost hundreds of thousands of rupees after falling victim to such scams.
The organisation urged the public to deal only with legitimate university representatives operating through legally recognised channels.
It also advised students and parents to carefully verify the authenticity of documents and bank account details provided by individuals requesting payments before making any financial transactions.
According to Sri Lanka CERT, some advertisements on social media promise admission to foreign universities, visas to travel abroad, work permits for several years and, eventually, citizenship in those countries.
Scammers may pose as representatives of leading international universities and claim that students can secure admission by paying a registration fee and the tuition fees for the first semester.
They may also promise that students can find jobs to cover accommodation and food expenses, while offering the possibility of scholarships for subsequent semesters.
However, CERT warned that some of these advertisements are entirely fraudulent, noting that the information provided by scammers over the telephone may sound convincing and attractive.
The public has therefore been urged to exercise caution and independently verify all claims before providing personal information or making payments related to overseas education opportunities.
