Sri Lanka Police have arrested 765 suspects linked to computer and digital fraud offences so far this year, Police Spokesperson ASP Fredrick Wootler said, as the Inspector General of Police ordered firm action against online scam operations.
“Digital fraud and computer scams have increased significantly within the country, and Sri Lanka Police are deeply concerned about the situation,” Wootler said. “The Inspector General of Police has directed stringent action to ensure that those responsible are brought before the law.”
What the police describe
Criminals are using smartphones, social media platforms and online communication channels to reach victims across the country, police say, and are adapting quickly to new technology. Fraudsters commonly pose as legitimate businesses, institutions or service providers to win a victim’s trust.
“You may receive calls or messages directing you towards various activities. People must remain cautious and attentive so they do not become victims of computer scams,” Wootler said.
Complaints can be made at any hour, he said, with police maintaining a 24-hour reporting mechanism; reports can also be submitted through the Cyber Crime Investigation Division.
Premises rented by foreign nationals
Police also raised concerns over reports that certain accommodation facilities, apartments and commercial premises have allegedly been rented by foreign nationals involved in scam-related activity. Information about suspicious operations should be reported immediately, police said, adding that they will not tolerate individuals or groups engaged in cybercrime.
The filing does not say how many such premises have been identified, where they are, or whether any of the 765 arrests relate to them.
The advice
Police urged the public never to share passwords, PIN numbers, One-Time Passwords (OTPs) or online banking credentials by phone, text message or social media, noting that legitimate banks and government institutions do not request those details through such channels.
Context
The warning follows a series of separate investigations this year into online financial crime, including a CID probe into instant loan applications and an SLCERT warning over a fraudulent foreign university scheme. This desk has not verified any relationship between those cases and the arrest total given here.
Sourcing note
This article rests on a single filing, published by NewsFirst at 2.50 p.m. Colombo time on Wednesday. Searches of the Daily Mirror, The Island, Daily FT, EconomyNext and Hiru returned no other verified newsroom carrying the same briefing, and neither the Daily Mirror nor the Hiru rail held a matching story. Ada Derana has been unreachable from this desk.
One caution for readers comparing figures: police have issued several different cybercrime-related arrest counts this year on different bases, including separate totals for foreign nationals detained in raids. The 765 here is specifically for computer and digital fraud offences, year to date, as stated in this filing. It should not be added to or substituted for any other published total.
Not reported
The filing gives no comparison figure for last year or any earlier period, so “increased significantly” is not quantified anywhere in it. It does not say how many of the 765 arrests led to charges or convictions, how many suspects were Sri Lankan or foreign, what sums victims lost, or how many complaints were received. It gives no hotline number for the 24-hour mechanism, and names no specific scam type among those driving the increase.
