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Last Updated : 2024-03-29 19:40:00
The Computer Emergency Readiness Team Co-ordination Centre (CERT|CC) said today it had recorded complaints from five people who had paid a total of more than Rs.1.8 million to the accounts of social media fraudsters to get their gift items released from Customs.
Its Principal Information Security Engineer Roshan Chandragupta said five instances had been reported since last December about social media fraudsters requesting gullible users to pay customs duties to get their gifts released and sent to them.
“Many use websites such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber to connect with ‘friends’ most of whom are not known to them,” Mr. Chandragupta said and added that some local fake Facebook account holders even pretend to be foreigners. “They send friend requests to other account holders in an attempt to build some kind of rapport and for chatting, share images and even send wishes and gifts to these ‘friends’ with whom they share their sorrow and happiness and give advices as well. Shortly thereafter these victims say they have received boxes containing gifts such as electrical items or jewellery and money was in the box to pay Customs clearance fees if necessary.”
Mr Chandragupta said the fraudsters frighten the victims warning them to not to go to the Customs Department to get their gifts released and they (the fraudsters) would sorted it out by paying the customs duty and send them the money to do so.
He advised the public not to fall prey to such scams. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
Angel Thursday, 03 May 2018 12:50 AM
Such fools still exist!
Dinesh Thursday, 03 May 2018 07:05 AM
Also what frighten me is, these people have voting rights to elect the President and members of the parliament. No wonder the country is in a mess
Devil Thursday, 03 May 2018 07:22 AM
Being an angel you are surprised! Aren't we all fools who fall for the politicians' promises!!!
A. K. Adwani Thursday, 03 May 2018 06:40 AM
Fake Book or Face Book
fuzha Thursday, 03 May 2018 07:17 AM
Agree with @Angel above. Greediness for free gifts and as long people gullible these fraudster(s)/ scammer(s) will thrive. But 1.8 mil by 5 people, that is staggering amount handed over by the affected. May they acting as per 'Fool and his money better parted'!
upali Thursday, 03 May 2018 09:17 AM
Correct me if I am wrong. Most of these victims are unmarried, matured females.
Anja Thursday, 03 May 2018 02:02 PM
Send them to Angoda via DM Android App
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