A viral video circulating on social media that falsely claims former Sri Lanka cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara is endorsing an investment opportunity has been confirmed as a scam by authorities and fact-checkers.
Fact-checking website Factcrescendo investigated the claims and found that the video, along with fabricated articles mimicking the style of local media websites, is part of a coordinated online fraud. The fake content also falsely linked entrepreneur Otara Gunewardene and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to the scheme.
The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) verified that the materials are fraudulent, urging the public to remain vigilant against such scams.
Cybersecurity expert Asela Waidyalankara said the scams are engineered to appear credible, tricking users into clicking malicious links designed to steal personal data or Facebook login credentials. “These posts are made to look authentic but ultimately aim to harvest sensitive information or lure people into fake investments,” he cautioned.
The warning comes ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holiday period, when online fraud attempts typically increase. Authorities urge individuals to verify online claims before engaging and report suspicious content to SLCERT or the police.
