Police have arrested a 22-year-old resident of Minuwangoda over a financial fraud involving a fake website designed to resemble the official site of a private bank.
The Computer Crimes Investigation Division’s North Western Province Unit said investigations began after a complaint was lodged on February 16, 2026. The suspect is alleged to have defrauded Rs. 1,000,024 through the fraudulent site.
He was taken into custody on Monday and produced at the Wariyapola Police Station. He is scheduled to appear before the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The CCID is continuing further inquiries into the case, police said. The division has not released the name of the private bank whose branding was spoofed by the fake site.
The arrest underlines a continuing rise in phishing-style cybercrime targeting Sri Lankan bank customers. Regulators and local banks have repeatedly warned users to check URL spellings and verify bank website addresses via official mobile apps or printed statements before entering credentials.
Victims who suspect they have been defrauded through a fake banking website are advised to contact their bank’s fraud hotline immediately and file a complaint with the Computer Crimes Investigation Division.
