Cryptocurrency Fraud
New financial fraud hits Sri Lankans by storm, Chinese couple arrested
Colombo: Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has launched an investigation into a new financial fraud, which involved a Chinese couple, amounting to Rs.14 billion with 8,000 people being victims in a fake cryptocurrency scheme.
Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa told Daily Mirror Online that the alleged fraud was carried out by a Chinese couple and a Sri Lankan citizen and 8,000 people had fallen victim to it since 2020.
The spokesman said the suspects had invited selected individuals to five-star hotels and influenced them that there would be high profits by investing in cryptocurrency.
He said the Chinese couple and the Sri Lankan were the masterminds behind the fraud and won the trust of their victims by inviting them to lavish dinners.
However, when the investors tried to withdraw the profits they had earned through the investments, the suspects had not allowed them to withdraw the funds, the newspaper reported.
SSP Thalduwa said a number of complaints had been received at the Financial Fraud unit of the CID.
After probes, police arrested the Chinese couple at the Bandaranaike International Airport when they had tried to flee the country.
The Chinese couple has been sent to remand custody.
The Sri Lankan, who was involved in the crime, was arrested on Oct 11.
He was later released on bail after being produced in court.
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