Sri Lankan law enforcement officials have uncovered an illegal online financial transaction racket involving multiple foreign nationals.
During a special raid conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials, the racket was exposed. CID officials targeted two centers in Negombo, where 30 foreign nationals were arrested in connection with illegal online financial transactions. A senior officer of the Criminal Investigation Department said that among the arrested foreign nationals were citizens of several countries, including China, the Philippines, the Maldives, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.
The officer also stated that the suspected foreign nationals conducted this illegal transaction racket through social media, mainly targeting Facebook users.
The official revealed that these suspects allegedly promised a return of Rs 3,000 for each investment of Rs 5,000 to collect a large amount of money. The Criminal Investigation Department has also seized a large stock of communication equipment in these two houses, believed to be used for the alleged illegal online transactions. Law enforcement agencies suspect these individuals might have conducted similar frauds internationally. Senior Superintendent of Police Mangala Dehideniya, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, said that these foreigners are being detained and interrogated for a long time. He further mentioned that police suspect these individuals have defrauded billions of rupees and that an operation has been implemented to check other such locations.
Earlier this year, five Chinese nationals and a Sri Lankan were arrested for allegedly running an online loan scam in Dehiwala, targeting social media users desperate and vulnerable amid the country’s economic crisis. According to the police, the scam has been active since at least 2021, when the business was registered with the Department of Registrar of Companies as an investment firm, with an office located in Dehiwala. However, the company did not engage in any legitimate investments. Instead, it created various social media pages to advertise online loan schemes, using enticing posts and slogans that promised quick and easy loans for individuals in urgent need of cash.
