The raids in the western province carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have brought to light a system whose bases are found in hotels and private structures, following the same scheme that they have in various countries in Southeast Asia. The most widespread frauds are financial and investment.
Colombo () – The phenomenon of centers specialized in online scams, widespread in Southeast Asia (especially in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, according to the first UN report of 2023), is spreading rapidly in Sri Lanka as well. The centers are known as scam camp (scam camps) and their existence in the island country came to light this year, after successive raids on hotels and private facilities. According to police authorities, the spread of this phenomenon could have serious repercussions on the banking system, since it is a very profitable sector. Sri Lanka has become an attractive destination for international criminal networks, which deceive young people – especially illegal Chinese, Indian and Thai migrants – into believing they are applying for legitimate jobs.
According to police spokesperson, Deputy Inspector General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Nihal Thalduwa, “in recent weeks a series of major police raids have been carried out in the Western province and nearly 200 foreigners have been arrested, which “The Kandy Range Crime Investigation Unit arrested 114 Chinese nationals, suspected of being involved in online financial scams, which demonstrates the widespread nature of the problem.” Most of those arrested are Chinese nationals, but there are also Indians and Thais. raid on a hotel in Kundasale, Kandy,” the vice inspector continued.
“During the raid, police seized more than 100 computers and around 300 cell phones in the possession of the suspects. “The Chinese citizens, including 20 women, had rented 47 rooms in the hotel when the police burst in,” he explained. According to DIG Thalduwa, different types of scams have been perpetrated from these camps: the most common is the “investment scam”, which is carried out through social networks, in which victims are convinced to finance projects. false. As soon as the victim sends the money to the scammers, they transfer the funds abroad.
Senior CID officials revealed to that on Sunday, October 6, “the CID raided a hotel and a private facility in Hanwella, Gampaha, after receiving a tip that a group of foreigners were staying at these places and were carrying out financial scams through social media and telephone” There were 40 foreigners detained, including men and women, in the two places: 30 Chinese, four Indians and six Thais. The investigators also confiscated 499 mobile phones, 24 laptops and 29 desktop computers that were probably used to carry out the attacks. scams.
On Monday, October 7, 19 Chinese nationals were detained in Nawala, Colombo. On Tuesday the 8th, officers from the Panadura North police station arrested 20 Chinese citizens who were staying in a hotel in Gorakana on the accusation of not having valid visas to stay in the country. Among the items seized at the scene were 442 mobile phones, 19 laptops, three desktop computers, two video cameras and 115 SIM cards.
The CID is currently investigating whether there is a link between the foreigners arrested in the Hanwella and Gampaha areas and those detained during subsequent raids. Investigators are also checking whether these groups are involved in recent episodes of financial scams on customers of several banks in the country, in which fraudsters stole customers’ one-time passwords (OTP) provided by the banks.
These camps are located in small hotels and private business establishments because scammers tend to look for understaffed facilities. He found that they rent the entire place for a long period and pay more than the market price to convince the owners. Investigations showed that these scammers have victims in Indonesia, Thailand and China, and also in some South Asian countries.
Add Comment