Sri Lanka CERT has warned the public of a surge in credit card scams involving fake SMS messages and online alerts claiming that cards have been suspended due to “suspicious activity.”
According to CERT, victims are lured into clicking fraudulent links and entering personal details, including National Identity Card (NIC) numbers, after being warned that their cards will be cancelled within 24 hours. Scammers then obtain One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and use the information to steal funds from victims’ bank accounts.
In a separate scam, fraudsters have reportedly impersonated police officers through WhatsApp video calls, falsely claiming that a suspect in custody used the victim’s NIC to commit financial crimes. Victims are threatened with arrest and pressured into transferring money to avoid legal action.
Sri Lanka CERT has strongly advised the public not to share sensitive information through unknown links, messages, or phone calls, and to verify any such claims directly with their banks.
Members of the public are urged to report suspicious activity immediately to their bank and to Sri Lanka CERT.
