AFP, COLOMBO
A surge in arrests of suspected foreign scammers in Sri Lanka has authorities concerned that the island is fast becoming a hub for online crime, following sweeping crackdowns in hotspots Cambodia and Myanmar.Some scam networks forced out of countries in Southeast Asia have simply shifted to new bases, increasingly moving operations to Sri Lanka — an attractive destination due to a relaxed visa regime and reliable, high-speed Internet, officials said.Since the start of the year, police have arrested more than 1,000 foreigners, mainly from China, Vietnam and India, for alleged involvement in cybercrime, a jump from 430 in 2024 and even fewer last year, spokesman Fredrick Wootler said.
People suspected of running cyberscam centers cover their faces as they are escorted to a prison after their arrest in Colombo on May 9.
Last month, Sri Lankan customs officials intercepted nine Chinese nationals attempting to smuggle used mobile phones and laptops in the hundreds, raising suspicion they were to be used in large-scale fraud operations.Fraud compounds where scammers lure Internet users into fake romantic relationships, cryptocurrency investments and betting platforms have flourished across Southeast Asia.
