Sri Lanka CERT, the national cyber security agency, has warned the public about fraudulent social media advertisements offering admission to foreign universities.
In a press release, it said several parents and students had complained of losing hundreds of thousands of rupees after responding to such advertisements.
CERT said the advertisements claim students can gain university admission, visas, work permits and eventually citizenship. Callers are allegedly told they need only pay a registration fee and first-semester tuition, and may be offered scholarships for later semesters.
Victims may be asked to open an email account or join a WhatsApp group, where videos, photographs and registration documents resembling genuine university papers are shared, CERT said. They are then given foreign bank account details for payment. After the money is sent, the scammers disappear, it said.
CERT urged the public to deal only with legitimate university representatives working through lawful, recognised channels. It also asked people to verify all documents, and the bank accounts to which payment is requested, before transferring any money.
