The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) today launched a month-long national awareness campaign titled “Be Scam Proof”, aimed at strengthening public awareness and resilience against financial scams across the country. 

Speaking at the launch event in Colombo, CBSL Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said financial fraud in Sri Lanka continues to thrive due to limited public awareness about legal and regulated financial services, alongside the growing sophistication of digital scams. 

He noted that fraudsters exploit both technological advancements and information gaps, targeting individuals through illegal investment schemes, fraudulent links, and other deceptive financial practices. The Governor highlighted that many people remain unable to distinguish between licensed financial institutions and illegal schemes. 

Weerasinghe warned that pyramid schemes, illegal deposit-taking operations, deceptive high-return investment schemes, and digital scams not only cause significant financial losses to individuals but also undermine trust in the formal financial system. 

The Governor said the campaign forms part of broader efforts to strengthen financial consumer protection and supports Sri Lanka’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy. He stressed that combating financial fraud requires collaboration among regulators, financial institutions, telecommunications providers, cybersecurity authorities, law enforcement agencies, media organizations, and content creators. 

As part of the campaign, the Central Bank will roll out a nationwide multimedia awareness programme featuring posters, short films, a theme song, and engagements across traditional and digital media platforms. The initiative will particularly target vulnerable groups, including rural communities, low-income households, senior citizens, youth, schools, universities, and workplaces. 

Calling on the public to remain vigilant, Weerasinghe urged citizens to question suspicious promises, verify information before trusting financial offers, and act responsibly to protect their financial well-being. 

The CBSL Governor said the Central Bank would continue working with stakeholders to ensure awareness efforts reach communities across the country and help build a Sri Lanka that is truly “Scam Proof.” (Newswire)

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