December 15, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Police have issued a renewed warning to the public over a growing number of fraudulent telephone calls made by organised groups posing as law enforcement officers and bank staff.
According to police, the callers often claim to represent institutions such as the Sri Lanka Police, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Financial Crimes Investigation Division or commercial banks. Their aim, authorities say, is to frighten and pressure victims into complying with false demands.
These callers typically allege that the recipient is linked to serious offences, including financial crimes or money laundering, and threaten imminent arrest or legal action. To make their claims sound convincing, they may refer to partial personal information, such as a name, identity card number or supposed recent transactions.
Police said victims are frequently instructed not to discuss the matter with anyone, including family members, on the excuse that the case is confidential. In more elaborate attempts, scammers may initiate video calls, using staged backgrounds, fake uniforms or mock office settings to reinforce the deception.
The scam usually culminates in a demand for money, either through bank transfers or cash deposits, supposedly for verification, clearance procedures or temporary holding in a “government” account. In some instances, victims are also pressured into revealing sensitive information such as bank account details, PINs, one-time passwords or copies of identity documents.
Police stressed that no legitimate officer or government agency will ever request money or personal banking information over the telephone. They also clarified that official investigations, arrests or court actions are never communicated by phone, but only through formal written notices or legal channels.
Members of the public who receive such calls are advised to hang up immediately and avoid sharing any information. Police recommend verifying any claims independently by contacting the nearest police station or using official contact details published by the Sri Lanka Police, rather than numbers provided by callers.
Those who encounter or fall victim to such scams are urged to lodge a complaint without delay, providing as much information as possible, including phone numbers, messages or recordings, to assist ongoing investigations.
Authorities also reminded the public to be cautious when sharing personal details, noting that basic information can easily be harvested through online forms, registrations or promotional campaigns. Police reiterated that persistent threats and urgent demands for money are clear signs of a scam and called on the public to remain alert.
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