Claiming to sell a three-wheeler for cheap, they WhatsApped an ID and swindled advance payments from many.

Two individuals who defrauded money from people in various parts of the island by publishing a fake advertisement online stating that a three-wheeler is for sale have been arrested by the Kompannaweediya Police. These suspects deceived buyers by impersonating officers of the Sri Lanka Police and Air Force.

Those who have been caught by the law are two individuals aged 43 and 47, residing in Dematagoda and Siyambalagune areas, who are engaged in the masonry profession. Investigations have revealed that after they posted advertisements online, to gain the trust of customers who called them, they sent photos of official identity cards of a real police sergeant working at the Crime Scene Investigation Laboratory of the Colombo Central Division and an Air Force soldier via WhatsApp.

In this manner, by providing false information, they have obtained an advance payment of approximately Rs. 230,000 from individuals in areas such as Mahiyanganaya, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Katuwana, and Ragama, deposited into their bank accounts. Acting on a complaint received by the Kompannaweediya Police, officers have so far identified two bank accounts into which money was credited for this fraudulent activity.

Police investigations are continuing to apprehend another suspect connected to one of the identified bank accounts. Two mobile phones belonging to the arrested suspects have also been taken into police custody, and the two suspects are scheduled to be produced before the court.