Chinese, Indians, and Thais arrested after online scam hubs found in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) carried out raids in the Western Province, shedding light on a system operating out of hotels and private establishments, according to a same scheme already present in several Southeast Asian countries. The most common frauds are financial and fake investments.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Online scams are widespread in Southeast Asia, especially in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, this according to the first UN report released in 2023, and are spreading to Sri Lanka.
The places where such operations take place are known as scam camps, and their presence on the island nation came to light this year, following several raids on hotels and private establishments.
According to police authorities, the growth of this kind of activity could have serious repercussions on the country’s banking system, since it is very lucrative.
Sri Lanka has become an attractive destination for international criminal networks, which lure young people – especially undocumented Chinese, Indian, and Thai nationals – with promises of legitimate jobs.
According to a police spokesman, Deputy Inspector General (DOG) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Nihal Thalduwa, “during the past several weeks, a series of major police raids were carried out in the Western Province and approximately 200 foreigners were arrested, revealing the widespread nature of the issue.”
Most of those arrested are Chinese nationals, but several Indian and Thai nationals were also taken into custody.
“Kandy Range Crime Investigation Unit yesterday arrested 114 Chinese nationals on suspicion of engaging in online financial scams after raiding a hotel in Kundasale, in Kandy,” said DIG Thalduwa.
“During the raid, police seized over 100 computers and approximately 300 mobile phones in the possession of the suspects. Chinese nationals, including 20 women, had been renting out 47 rooms of the hotel when the police raided the location.”
According to DIG Thalduwa, different types of scams are involved, the most common being the "investment scam”, through social media, in which victims are convinced to finance fake projects.
As soon as the victim sends the scammers the money, the latter usually transfer the funds abroad.
Senior CID officials told AsiaNews that on Sunday, 6 October, “the CID raided a hotel and a private establishment in Hanwella, Gampaha, following a tip-off that a group of foreigners were staying at these places and were carrying out financial scams through social media and over the phone.”
Some 40 foreign men and women were arrested at two locations: 30 Chinese, four Indians, and six Thais. Investigators also seized 499 mobile phones, 24 laptops and 29 desktop computers suspected of being used in the scams.
On Monday, 7 October, another 19 Chinese nationals were taken into custody in Nawala, Colombo. The next day, officers from the North Panadura police station arrested 20 Chinese nationals at a hotel in Gorakana for not possessing valid visas to remain in the country. Among the assortment of items seized at the location were 442 mobile phones, 19 laptops, three desktop computers, two video cameras, and 115 SIM cards.
Currently, the CID is investigating a possible link between the foreigners arrested in the Hanwella and Gampaha and those taken into custody in subsequent raids.
Investigators are also looking into whether these groups are involved in recent financial scams against customers at several of the country’s banks, which have seen scammers steal customers' Time Passwords (OTPs) provided by banks.
“These camps are being operated from small hotels and private business establishments as scammers tend to look for smaller hotels with a small number of staff. They would rent the entire place for an extended period and pay more than the market price to entice owners,” AsiaNews has learnt.
Investigations have revealed that these scammers targeted victims in Indonesia, Thailand, and China, as well as some South Asian countries.
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12/02/2016 15:14
