Sri Lanka Police have launched an investigation into a cyber-threat and extortion email network operating under the name of the Inspector General of Police, after impersonation attempts using forged official signatures were detected.
The probe is being led by the Special Task Force’s Cyber Security and Open Source Investigation Unit, in coordination with the Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Newswire reported. Police said the campaign uses fabricated IGP signatures and other impersonation tactics to lend false authority to threatening messages, warning that the activity could erode public trust in law enforcement if left unchecked.
Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant. Citizens were told not to panic, not to respond to suspicious or threatening messages, not to make any payments demanded in such emails, and not to click links contained in the messages. Incidents should be reported immediately to the nearest police station, the Computer Crime Investigation Division, or the Police Special Task Force.
Police said all necessary measures were being taken to identify and prosecute those behind the fraudulent activity.
The case is the latest in a string of impersonation-driven cyber crime episodes drawing official attention. Authorities only days earlier flagged a fake “GovPay” SMS scam impersonating traffic fine notices, while the IGP last week unveiled an island-wide crackdown on online fraud networks. Earlier in the month, the CID issued a separate warning over scam calls in which fraudsters posed as police officers, and PMD warned that AI-generated deepfakes impersonating the Prime Minister were circulating on social media.
