Last updated on February 18, 2025

Names and places mentioned herein are hypothetical.

Sahan wanted to sell some of his used items in good condition on Facebook Marketplace, so he posted about them. A buyer called him, and Sahan told him that once the money was deposited into his account, he would deliver the items.

Sahan:- Hi, please deposit the money into this account:
Sahan Wijewardena
Account # xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ABC Bank, Kirulapone Branch
Buyer:– We’ll deposit the money and let you know.

After some time, Sahan still hadn’t received any deposit. A few weeks later, as a long weekend approached, Sahan was planning a trip. Then, he got a message from the same buyer who had contacted him earlier. It was Friday night, and Sahan was getting ready to sleep.

Buyer:– Hi, I’ve deposited the money into your account. Here is the deposit slip. I need to collect the goods soon, as I’m flying tomorrow evening.

Sahan didn’t receive any deposit notification from the bank. He checked the slip the buyer sent, but felt confused because he hadn’t received any message from the bank. Since Sahan follows the Hithawathi Facebook page, where he often hears about online financial fraud, he decided to call the bank’s hotline based on the tips he had seen. The bank agent confirmed to him that no money had been credited to his account.

Sahan then informed the buyer, realizing that the person was a scammer.

Sahan:– Sorry! The money hasn’t been credited to my account.
Buyer:– Maybe it’s because of the long weekend and it’s late now. But you can see the deposit slip right?
Sahan immediately reported the buyer’s profile and blocked him for good.

Precaution tips:

  • Unless there is a technical issue with the bank, you will always receive notifications about transactions (credits and debits) in your account provided you have subscribed to the SMS service. If there is such a problem, the bank may inform you in advance.
  • Bank slips can be edited using advanced tools, so if something is doubtful, contact the relevant bank’s hotline to verify.
  • Follow the Hithawathi Facebook page for updates on the latest scams.
  • You may report such fraudulent profiles through the relevant social media app.
  • Cybercrime complaints with clear evidence (like correct links or screenshots) can be sent to the CID. You can mail them to “The Director, Criminal Investigation Department, Colombo 01” by registered post or email to dir.ccid@police.gov.lk / report@cid.police.gov.lk