A significant rise in digital and online frauds and cyber harassments have been observed by the Sri Lanka Police, Police Media Spokesman ASP F. U. Wootler said yesterday (14).
Addressing a special Police press conference to bring awareness on online digital scamming operations, the Police Spokesman said that the Police has taken a special opportunity to keep the public aware constantly, in order to ensure that these digital and online scams are brought under control.
He said that with direct directives received by the IGP, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) along with the Cyber Crimes Investigations Division (CCID) has taken prompt actions and have also initiated many projects to ensure that cyber crimes and cyber online crimes are being well controlled in the country.
“The scammers target the public by offering fake job opportunities, offering instant monetary loans, introducing instant investment schemes and also announcing the individuals that they are prize winners through social media platforms.
These scammers often deceive victims into sharing their personal and sensitive information, personal details, banking and financial information like the user words, passwords, One Time Passwords (OTPs), QR codes which may illegally take back your money or withdraw your money from your bank accounts.
Also, some scammers will offer fake job opportunities by impersonating some individuals or wealthy personalities or even well known institutions. Most times the younger generation have been victimized who are preparing to obtain bank loans which are called loan scams.
These scammers will promise you quick or instant cash and will provide you with the cash but at the end of the day, within a couple of weeks or within a very short period, the scammers will force you to deposit high rates of interest and also if you fail to deposit these high interests, you will be harassed by the mobile phones.
Most of the young generation has also been victimized by the online shopping scammers where when they order some products and pay for the orders at the end of the day you don’t receive the products that were ordered. Most important part is, these scammers employ highly sophisticated and fraudulent methods to take advantage of the growing reliance on digital platforms for communication, trade and financial activities. It has also been observed that most of these victims are younger generation, elders and the first time internet users.
Therefore, the CID and CCID will direct the public to remain vigilant and avoid sharing personal details and financial information and at the same time the public is advised to verify any suspicious links that are sent to you through WhatsApp or social media.
The public should also try to enable strong security measures such as two-way-verification authentication and secure passwords. Also, the public will now be kept alerted of the following information centers, or email addresses or telephone numbers in order to complain then and there for quick response by the Sri Lanka Police.
The public can write via email to the Cyber Crime Unit of the CID to dir.ccid@police.gov.lk, oic.ccid@police.gov.lk.
Any individual could always visit the CID and hand over your complaints too. And in case of emergencies you can call the Help desk on 0112300638. And also at the same time, if you want to report to remove such unwanted posts, you can report to report.cid@police.gov.lk.
In 2025, The CID has received 1,528 cases as online scams, and there have been 442 suspects arrested and prosecuted in a court of law. In 2025, Sri Lanka Police have received 3,100 online scams complaints out of which 314 suspects have been arrested during the investigations.”
The Police Spokesman said that the Police is very much concerned over these online scams that have been happening in the country and with the directives of the IGP, the CID and the CCID have now taken very strong measures and actions against such perpetrators and requested the public to be vigilant and to adhere to the directives given by the Police and stated that the Sri Lanka Police will always assist, help and direct the public regarding online digital scamming incidents.
