The Inspector General of Police has instructed all stations island-wide to act against online financial fraud and has directed the Computer Crime Investigation Division (CCID) to lead investigations, Sri Lanka Police said in a public advisory on Saturday.
The advisory cites a “significant increase” in cyber-related offences committed through computers and mobile devices, including identity theft, unauthorised access to personal information, bank account hacking, social media takeovers and fraudulent websites. Police said large-scale financial frauds are being reported daily, particularly via Telegram, WhatsApp and other social platforms, with foreign nationals living in Sri Lanka previously arrested in connection with such operations.
Fraudsters are luring victims with offers of lottery prizes, instant loans, online jobs, account credits and study or work placements in Europe, the advisory says. The agency attributed the rise to weak passwords, low cybersecurity awareness and a habit of clicking suspicious links.
The public is asked not to share OTPs, PINs, bank account details or passwords with unknown parties, to avoid suspicious links and QR codes, and to refuse third-party access to bank accounts. The CCID supervision hotlines are 071 859 2918 and 071 859 1765, with a main line on 011 230 0756; written complaints can also be filed at the Criminal Investigation Department.
The directive broadens an April advisory on .apk banking malware spreading via WhatsApp and Telegram into a general financial-fraud crackdown, and follows the Public Security Ministry’s disclosure of 4,742 AI-assisted cybercrime cases against women in 2025. It lands as the CID and CCD pursue the Rs. 920 million Romania job racket attributed to a single Homagama-based recruiter.
