🚨 New Cyber Scam Alert: 'Pig Butchering' Targets Sri Lankans

• Scammers recently solicited Sri Lankans for a small investment of Rs 75,000 (approx. US$ 250) via bot-related postings, promising high returns ($7,500+ monthly) from an algorithmic platform. • The scheme used AI-generated (deep-fake) videos cloning the voices and likenesses of the President, Prime Minister, and leading businesspersons to appeal to gullible investors. • While original fake videos were removed by Facebook, new versions with cloned voices of other business figures have since appeared, indicating the threat is ongoing. • This 'Pig Butchering' (Sha Zhu Pan) scam is a form of social engineering where victims are 'fattened' with false initial returns before their entire investment is stolen. • The rise in such cybercrime poses economic challenges, as it siphons off valuable foreign exchange from the country, and erodes public trust in financial institutions. • Targeted victims are often educated young professionals with a "blind faith in AI" and a desire for quick wealth. Citizens must be proactive in verifying investment opportunities to avoid becoming a victim.