📈 Police Alert: Sharp Surge in Online Financial Fraud 📈

The Sri Lanka Police have issued a high-priority warning regarding a spike in online financial scams, primarily targeting citizens via social media platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. In response, law enforcement is launching a systematic 2026 awareness drive to combat daily reported incidents. • Core Threat Metrics • Growth: Significant YoY increase in digital fraud complaints. • Platforms: Social media, specifically Telegram and WhatsApp, are the primary channels for fraudsters. • Vulnerabilities: Unauthorized sharing of bank details, OTPs, QR codes, and passwords. • Top 9 Reported Scams • Online Loans: Advertisements for "instant loans" leading to excessive interest and harassment. • Investment & Crypto: Fraudulent high-return schemes often promoted via Telegram. • Phishing: Deceptive links impersonating banks or delivery services to siphon funds. • Apparel & Retail: Fake shopping pages on Facebook where items are never delivered. • Romance Scams: Impersonation to extract funds, often via "foreign gift" claims. • Job Frauds: Fake work-from-home offers demanding "registration fees." • Targeted Demographics: Specific schemes exploiting children (gaming scams) and the elderly (assistance requests). • Security Action Plan • Verification: Public urged to verify official pages and use only trusted platforms. • Reporting: Suspected fraud should be reported immediately to the Cyber Crime Unit of the CID. • Prevention: Citizens are cautioned against sharing sensitive banking information with unverified entities.