In a swift operation, the Cyber Crimes Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) raided an online loan center in Dehiwala, leading to the arrest of five Chinese nationals and one Sri Lankan.
The raid, prompted by a complaint, uncovered a potentially fraudulent operation using social media.
Authorities confiscated eight desktop computers, thirteen laptops, and 41 mobile phones from the premises, suggesting a significant scale of activity.
The Police Department encourages anyone who has been a victim of this online loan center or any similar scam to come forward and file a complaint.
Opposition Leader highlighted the issue
Last week, Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa had requested the Ministry of Finance to look into the issue of threats by loan sharks to the public who are facing economic difficulties.
Addressing the Parliament (Jan 12), MP Premadasa said several online loan services have entered the local market to exploit the bankrupt state of Sri Lanka further burdening the innocent public.
Stating that many of these online loan services are operated by foreigners, he said these loan sharks are found to be taking advantage of the existing bankruptcy by charging exorbitant interest rates for loans offered, such as nearly 300%.
“They use photographs of those who obtain loans, as well as their families, to blackmail and vilify them on Facebook if they are unable to pay back the loan sum or interest within the stipulated time. They even go to the extent of claiming extramarital affairs, breaking up families,” he said.(NewsWire)