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CID apprehends cyber crime racket
View(s):Targeting the Indo-Lanka cricket fan base, scammers have found an open door to drain the pockets of cricket lovers through fraudulent betting schemes on their favourite teams.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) cracked down on a large-scale cyber crime racket over the past week, arresting 137 Indian nationals operating from Sri Lanka.
Despite these efforts, twice the number continue to operate across various parts of the island, officials say.
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- Cyber crimes through social media Pix by T K G Kapila
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- Some of the apprehended foreign individuals
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- A large cache of passports and mobile phones were found
Investigations revealed the individuals’ involvement in match fixing. A fragment of the large-scale racket was identified during the cricket world cup.
This illegal practice has found fertile ground in Sri Lanka, transforming the country into a hub for such nefarious activities, where profits flow back to India, CID told the Sunday Times.
Apart from intelligence sources, a complaint filed by a woman who fell victim to one of the scams led the CID to arrest more fraudsters.
The victim stated that an unknown number added her to a WhatsApp community operated by the scammers, where she was offered a remote job that promised to pay her for liking and commenting on TikTok videos.
Intrigued by the opportunity, she accepted the offer and started receiving tasks. For each task completed as instructed – liking and commenting on specified TikTok videos, she was promised a payment of 750 rupees which she received on several occasions.
As the engagement progressed, she was further directed to join their Telegram community where she was asked to provide her bank details.
She was later convinced to give 5.4 million on the promise of receiving a higher amount in return. When she did not receive anything in return, she lodged a complaint with the CID.
After investigations, 137 Indian nationals were arrested with 158 mobile phones, 16 laptops and 60 desktops used for the scam. The arrested were operating in the areas of Kochchikade, Poruthota in Negombo, Thalangama, Hinatikumbura, Battaramulla, and Madiwela in Kotte.
Some locals knowingly facilitated their operations by providing them with laptops and shelter, investigations revealed.
A father-son duo was arrested by the CID in Peradeniya, suspected to have connections with the racket. When interrogated by the CID, they disclosed that they too had fallen victim to the said fraud, and opened two bank accounts upon the directions of the scammers.
Meanwhile, the CID arrested 30 Chinese nationals on Friday (28) in relation to allegations of engaging in an online financial fraud. Police Media Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that the group was arrested while residing at a hotel in Kudapaduwa in Negombo.
Eight of the thirty arrested did not possess passports.
Thirty laptops, and over 80 mobile phones were seized by CID officials during the arrest.
DIG Thalduwa said that the arrested individuals will be charged under the Computer Crime Act as their actions affect the national security and economy of the country.
He added that they would also be charged under the Immigrants and Emigrants Act as they had arrived on tourist visa, and the Money Laundering Act accordingly.
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