The scam farms by foreign nationals recently busted in Sri Lanka are similar to those in Myanmar where Sri Lankan nationals are stranded, Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said.
Speaking to local media, the Police Spokesman said these scam farms are termed ‘scamming camps’, which was a very new concept to Sri Lanka.
“This concept of scamming camps was discovered only this year. Suspects select separate locations, mostly consisting of rooms and a big hall where their activities can be conducted. Those at the camps are most often not allowed to leave the premises. This is similar to the situation of Sri Lankans stranded in Myanmar cyber camps,” he said.
DIG Thalduwa further said that even though they are not allowed to venture outdoors, they are provided with their salaries.
“These scamming camps require a swimming pool for the leisure activities of the workers. They also need a house for their food requirements,” he said.
The Police Spokesman said the scammers obtain locations under the pretext of operating a company and provide upfront payments for several months.
“Initially the company might show as if operating with four persons, but later it could even be around 50 persons at one location. However, the numbers depend on the scope of their network. Then equipment such as laptops and desktops are brought to the location,” he said.
DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that these scammers not only target people in Sri Lanka, but globally as well.
His comments come as over 150 foreign nationals, especially a large number of Chinese, have been arrested in the recent past for their involvement in online financial scams. (Newswire)