November 04, Colombo (LNW): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has reported a sharp increase in complaints linked to individuals being deceived into transferring money through fraudulent WhatsApp messages.
Assistant Superintendent of Police W. G. Jayanethsiri revealed that the department has received a significant number of such reports in recent days, urging users to remain vigilant when communicating via WhatsApp and other messaging platforms.
Explaining how the scam unfolds, he noted that fraudsters typically impersonate well-known or respected individuals by using phone numbers linked to their identities. They then send messages crafted to appear genuine — often referencing routine activities such as online meetings or professional discussions.
Victims are invited to join a supposed virtual meeting through a link, followed by a request to share a verification code allegedly needed for participation. However, this code is in fact a One-Time Password (OTP) sent by WhatsApp itself. By obtaining this OTP, scammers gain complete control of the victim’s WhatsApp account, giving them access to personal information, messages, and contacts.
Once in control, the impostors send messages to the victim’s friends, colleagues, or family members, claiming to face an emergency and requesting money transfers. Many recipients, trusting the apparent sender, send funds before realising they have been deceived.
ASP Jayanethsiri cautioned that many victims only discover their accounts have been compromised after several days, by which time multiple people may already have fallen prey to the scheme. He urged the public to avoid sharing verification codes or personal information through messaging apps and to verify any unusual requests directly via a phone call or in-person confirmation.
