Sri Lanka emerges as new hub for cyber scam networks

Sri Lanka is becoming a new hotspot for cyber scam operations as authorities crack down on these networks in neighboring countries. International media reports indicate a significant shift of these illicit activities to the island nation, with a notable number of Nepali citizens caught in the net.

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Ten individuals were arrested in Matara. They contacted us.

In a recent operation, Sri Lankan police raided suspected scam centers in Galle and Matara, leading to the arrest of 192 Indian nationals and 29 Nepalis. The Nepali embassy in Colombo has been actively involved, with its acting ambassador, Vijay Kumar Raut, reporting that 34 Nepali citizens were arrested in May alone on charges related to cybercrime and illegal call center operations. These individuals were held in prisons in Galle, Boossa, and Matara.

Embassy officials visited prisons on June 1 to provide consular access. They found 10 Nepalis in Matara prison and 24 others, initially detained in Galle, who had been transferred to Boossa prison. A court ordered the release of these detainees on bail on June 5. Of the 10 held in Matara, six were also granted bail. Some of the arrested Nepalis claimed they were unaware of cybercrime activities and had traveled to Sri Lanka from the UAE seeking work permits for kitchen jobs. They stated their passports were being processed and denied any involvement in cybercrime, asserting they lacked computer skills.

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Cyber fraud and call centre activities have increased significantly in Sri Lanka’s southern coastal areas.

The embassy's records show a significant increase in cyber fraud and call center activities in Sri Lanka's southern coastal areas. This trend follows intensified enforcement and monitoring in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Thailand, and the UAE, pushing criminal networks to seek new bases. A spokesperson for Nepal's Foreign Ministry noted that while diplomatic solutions were sought with Southeast Asian countries due to increasing Nepali involvement, the situation in Sri Lanka is a new development being studied.

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We had also been seeking diplomatic solutions with Southeast Asian countries as Nepalis were increasingly affected. The Sri Lanka case is new, and we are studying.