Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Sri Lanka CERT) has warned the public about fraudulent social media advertisements offering admission to foreign universities, following complaints from parents and students who have lost hundreds of thousands of rupees.
In a statement, Sri Lanka CERT said some advertisements promise admission to foreign universities, visas, long-term work permits and even eventual citizenship in other countries.
The scammers reportedly pose as representatives of leading international universities and claim that students can secure admission by paying a registration fee and the tuition fees for the first semester.
They may also promise that students can find jobs to cover accommodation and food expenses, while offering the possibility of scholarships for subsequent semesters.
According to Sri Lanka CERT, scammers often instruct victims to create email accounts or join WhatsApp groups, where they share university-related videos, photographs and other information to make their offers appear genuine.
The agency warned that these materials may have been copied or stolen from online sources, while documents provided for registration may closely resemble authentic university documents.
Scammers may also provide foreign bank account details to receive payments, further convincing victims that the offers are legitimate. After collecting registration fees and initial tuition payments amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees, they reportedly disappear.
Sri Lanka CERT urged the public to avoid suspicious online advertisements and seek assistance only from legitimate university representatives operating through recognised and lawful channels.
It also advised prospective students and their parents to carefully verify the authenticity of all documents and bank account details before making any payments.
