The Police Anti-Scam Centre has issued a warning urging the public to remain vigilant against scams disguised as appeals for emergency medical assistance.
According to police, scammers are increasingly using fabricated medical stories and emotional appeals to solicit money. With evolving technology, their tactics have become more sophisticated, and cases involving fake medical aid requests are on the rise.
Police shared examples of such scams, including a post from a page named Dheenuge Magu. The post claimed a woman was suffering from a severe infection affecting her ear and brain and urgently needed surgery. It also included a bank account number for donations.
The Anti-Scam Centre advised the public to verify such claims before transferring money. Recommended steps include using Google Image Search to check if the photo has been used elsewhere, confirming the authenticity of the page, and calling the listed contact number to verify its connection to the account and the medical case.
Police also cautioned against scams involving fake cancer treatment appeals, noting that scammers continue to exploit emotional triggers to deceive people.
The Anti-Scam Centre emphasized the importance of deep verification and encouraged reporting suspicious posts to authorities.