The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SL CERT) has reported a significant increase in complaints related to online financial fraud in 2024.
According to SL CERT’s Senior Information Engineer, Charuka Damunupola, over 340 complaints involving financial scams have been received this year alone.
“Up to September, we have received 7,210 complaints regarding online scams, with the majority linked to social media platforms. When focusing specifically on online-based fraud, approximately 20% of these complaints involve financial scams. This highlights a growing trend of internet fraud targeting online banking users,” Damunupola stated.
He further explained that many victims fall prey to scams due to a lack of attention to security measures, particularly regarding One-Time Passwords (OTPs).
“Many users do not adequately safeguard their OTPs or fail to recognize fraudulent websites. This often results in them becoming victims of online banking scams,” Damunupola added.
He emphasized the need for increased vigilance as more users adopt online banking, noting that the rise in online financial fraud underscores the importance of educating the public about cybersecurity practices.
