Woman arrested over alleged online business scam

A woman suspected of defrauding an individual of Rs. 426,300 through an online scam promising high-income business opportunities has been arrested, Police Headquarters said.

According to police, the suspect had allegedly used a fake identity to contact the victim online and claimed to operate an internet-based business capable of generating high returns.

The arrest was made yesterday (08) following a complaint received by the North Western Province Sub-Unit of the Computer Crime Investigation Division regarding the online financial fraud.

Investigators launched a special probe into the incident, which led to the identification and arrest of a suspect allegedly directly linked to the scam.

The suspect is a 28-year-old woman residing in the Udugampola, Gampaha.

Police said investigations revealed that Rs. 186,500 of the total defrauded amount of Rs. 426,300 had been deposited into the suspect’s personal bank account, allegedly indicating her involvement in the financial fraud.

Further investigations are being carried out by officers attached to the North Western Province Sub-Unit of the Computer Crime Investigation Division.