Public advised to be careful with online ads during festive season

2026-03-13 - 03:56

The Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has issued a public advisory urging caution when interacting with online advertisements as the festive season approaches. Senior Information Security Engineer at SLCERT – Charuka Damunupola, stated that several online scam incidents have already been reported during the first 02 months of 2026. He highlighted that the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year increases the risk of fraudulent advertisements and malicious links online, often disguised as discounts, cash prizes, or special promotions. Damunupola explained that these malicious links frequently redirect users to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and sensitive information. He further warned that during the Vesak and Poson festive periods, scammers may attempt to collect user data through deceptive schemes, including promotions under names such as “Poson Maha Data Dansala.” SLCERT urged the public to remain vigilant and exercise caution when accessing unsolicited links or online advertisements.