New Delhi: Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigations Department has arrested at least 60 Indian nationals for allegedly being a part of a group engaged in online financial scams.
The Sri Lankan authorities arrested the accused from the suburbs of Madiwela and Battarmulla in Colombo on Thursday, reported PTI.
According to Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the authorities had conducted several raids in the suburbs, which led to the confiscation of 135 mobile phones and 57 laptops.
The action against the alleged scam began after a complaint from a victim who was lured into a WhatsApp group and was promised cash for social media interactions.
The Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies found out after further investigation that a scheme was being run by the scamsters wherein victims were coerced into making deposits after initial payments.
During the raids conducted by the CID on a luxury house in Negombo, officials uncovered key evidence including mobile phones and computers. Thirteen suspects were arrested after the raid in Negombo while 57 phones and computers were confiscated, reported PTI.
Subsequent raids in Negombo also resulted in 19 additional arrests, and also the gang’s links with people in Dubai and Afghanistan. The gang’s victims included both locals and foreigners.
The PTI report said that it is suspected that the arrested persons were involved in financial fraud, illegal betting and various activities of gambling.
