Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe has warned the public that individuals or an organised group are making telephone calls in his name to demand money and carry out other fraudulent activity.
Abeysinghe disclosed the reports in a post on his official social media account, asking the public not to fall victim to the scheme.
He asked people to refrain completely from giving money, or exchanging personal information or official documents, with anyone who telephones while misusing his name.
Anyone receiving such suspicious calls or messages should immediately inform the nearest police station or the relevant responsible authorities, the Deputy Minister said, urging the public to remain vigilant and act carefully to avoid falling victim to organised scams.
Part of a wider pattern
Impersonation of public officials has become one of the more common fraud methods reported in Sri Lanka. Scammers typically invoke the authority of a named office-holder to create urgency, then request a transfer, a fee, or copies of identity documents that can be used for further fraud.
Similar warnings have been issued across government in recent months. Police have cautioned the public over callers posing as CID and police officers, the Inland Revenue Department has been impersonated in fake tax payment links, and the Sri Lanka CERT has flagged AI-generated deepfakes of the President and Prime Minister used to promote bogus investment schemes.
The consistent official advice is that no minister, ministry or state agency solicits money or personal documents by unsolicited telephone call or direct message.
Source: Hiru News.
