The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has told the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that a fake mobile application imitating the SriLankan Airlines app was allegedly used to steal money from bank accounts.
The CID informed Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that the fraudsters used the airline’s branding and logo to promote the app, which offered a 50 percent return on airline ticket purchases. Users were first charged Rs. 250 to register.
According to investigators, users were then encouraged to enter personal information, which was allegedly used to gain unauthorised access to their bank accounts. The CID’s Computer Crime Investigation Division said millions of rupees had allegedly been stolen.
Investigators said many victims did not know their banking details had been compromised. Some noticed only that their phones were overheating and their batteries were draining faster.
The CID said several people who allegedly sold access to their bank accounts to help carry out the transactions have been arrested. Investigations are continuing to identify and arrest those who operated the app.
Customers should download airline apps only from official app stores.
