July 14, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Police have issued a public warning over a fraudulent scam involving text messages and online communications falsely claiming to be from the Police Traffic Division and demanding payment of alleged traffic fines.
Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Traffic and Road Safety Range, W.P.J. Senadheera, said the Police do not send SMS messages or other digital notifications instructing motorists to settle traffic fines through links provided in messages.
According to the Police, scammers are using SMS, WhatsApp and other messaging platforms to distribute fake notices claiming recipients have committed traffic offences. The messages typically urge individuals to pay a supposed fine within a specified period by clicking on a web link, in an apparent attempt to steal personal or financial information.
DIG Senadheera urged the public to treat such messages with extreme caution, stressing that they are not issued by the Police Traffic Division. He advised recipients not to click on any embedded links or disclose sensitive information, including banking details, under any circumstances.
Anyone who receives one of these fraudulent messages has been asked to report the matter to the nearest police station without delay. Police also reminded motorists to verify any traffic-related notices through official channels, warning that cybercriminals often exploit trusted institutions to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.