CERT Issues Urgent Warning Over WhatsApp Video Call Extortion Fraud

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has issued a stern warning regarding a financial scam operating through WhatsApp platform via video calls.

According to CERT, the fraudulent activity is being orchestrated from India. 

Several complaints received have revealed that the scam involves the use of Indian women to entrap victims.

Scammers first access individuals' Facebook profiles through fake accounts and connect with their friends list.

Then subsequently place a video call to the victim’s WhatsApp number.

During the call, a bared woman appears and influence the victim to disrobe where the scammers record these visuals.

The fraudsters show the footage to the victim and threaten to share it across the victim's friends on social media.

The fraudsters demand money to keep the video private, instructing the victim to deposit funds into a specific Indian bank account.

Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has urged anyone who has fallen victim to the scam to immediately file a complaint at the nearest police station.