Major social media scams : Warning from SLCERT

June 24, 2024 at 1:34 PM

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has warned the public to remain cautious of financial fraud via SMS and social media targeting festive seasons. 

Issuing a statement, SLCERT urged the public to be mindful of fake messages purportedly sent by various banks, commercial institutions, and international organizations.

According to SLCERT, these scams promise donations, cash gifts, lucky draws, and job insurance, using the name of legitimate entities.

“Cyber criminals attempt to contact individuals through fake websites, social media platforms and SMS, and WhatsApp. By accessing these links provided in the message, they can steal data from computers and mobile phones, leading to various forms of financial fraud,” it warned.

SLCERT further revealed that there has been a significant increase in such scams in recent times, especially centred around national and religious festivals. 

Full statement :