The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has warned the public about a growing scam in which fraudsters impersonate senior police officers through fake WhatsApp and Telegram accounts to extort money, Newswire reported.
According to SLCERT, scammers are using photographs and identities of senior police officials to create false profiles and then contacting individuals through phone calls, WhatsApp messages and Telegram chats. Victims are allegedly threatened with various accusations or legal action before being asked to make payments or financial contributions.
Authorities stressed that the Sri Lanka Police do not request money through social media platforms, messaging applications or personal accounts. The public has been advised not to send money to anyone claiming to be a police officer through such channels and to verify suspicious communications before responding.
Those who encounter such scams have been urged to report them immediately to the nearest police station or to relevant authorities, the agency said.
The warning is the latest in a year-long run of impersonation scams targeting Sri Lankan users. The CID issued a public warning in April about a rising trend of cybercriminals impersonating police officers — receiving 10,015 cybercrime complaints in 2025, of which 3,100 related specifically to scams — and SLCERT warned in early June about WhatsApp messages claiming to be from the Inland Revenue Department demanding tax payments. Police separately flagged a fake-fine SMS scam in May impersonating the Police Media Division.
