December 22, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s national cyber response body has sounded the alarm over a noticeable rise in online fraud, particularly involving bogus sellers offering goods through digital platforms.
Officials from the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) say an increasing number of complaints point to individuals posing as legitimate traders to deceive buyers and extract money.
Chief Information Security Engineer Nirosh Ananda stressed that consumers should take extra care to verify the authenticity of sellers and businesses before making any online payments, especially when deals appear unusually attractive.
He also revealed that SLCERT has recently received reports of scams exploiting public sympathy, with fraudsters falsely claiming to collect or distribute financial aid for communities affected by natural disasters.
Such schemes, he warned, often use emotional appeals to pressure victims into making quick transfers without proper checks.
SLCERT has advised the public to exercise caution when buying or selling items online, avoid sharing sensitive financial information, and rely on trusted platforms and verified sources. Authorities encourage anyone who suspects fraudulent activity to report it promptly so further losses can be prevented.
