Sri Lanka sees surge in personal data theft via free data scams on social media
(Image by Franz Bachinger from Pixabay)
Instances of personal data theft in Sri Lanka are increasing due to scams on social media that promise free cellular data, leading to a rise in complaints.
Charuka Damunupola, a Senior Information Security Engineer at Sri Lanka’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT), has strongly warned people against interacting with these fake messages.
He advises everyone not to open or share these messages because they are designed to trick people.
Damunupola explains that there is a common scam going around on WhatsApp that falsely offers free data but actually aims to collect personal information, including sensitive biodata.
He also points out cases where people have been tricked into financial theft through these scams.
This worrying trend emphasizes how important it is to be careful and vigilant when using online platforms, especially to protect personal data from being exploited maliciously.
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka President honors Navy, calls for unity in nation-building December 14, 2025
- Sri Lanka President pledges protection of fishermen’s rights amid Mannar crisis December 14, 2025
- Man arrested at Katunayake Airport with over 2 Kg of heroin December 14, 2025
- Sri Lankan President orders swift livelihood restoration for disaster-hit communities December 13, 2025
- Sri Lanka receives over USD 7 Billion in remittances in 2025 December 13, 2025
