LNP – Public advised to be vigilant on scam calls, text messages, emails via social media platforms: FIU

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) urges the public not to deposit money to the bank accounts of unknown parties or remit money through other means based on the above information without proper verification.

The announcement was made because a rapid increase in the number of complaints filed by aggrieved parties has been observed in connection with defrauding money from individuals by giving false information through fraudulent phone calls, text messages, e-mail messages and social media networks, promising foreign employment or asking them to pay customs duty fee to release parcels containing various valuable goods.

According to the FIU, scammers may request personal identification numbers (PINs), card verification values (CVVs) used to authenticate payment cards as stated on the back of the cards, and one-time passwords (OTPs) used to authenticate transactions, as well as User IDs, passwords, and OTPs used in mobile banking or internet banking.

Therefore, the FIU cautions the public that the said confidential information should not be shared with any third party and to be vigilant of such scams.

They claimed that providing such information would almost certainly result in you and a family member or close friend becoming victims of a financial scam.

If you receive these types of phone calls or text messages, please contact the FIU on 011-2477125 or 011-2477509.