Sri Lanka, Nov. 4 -- The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has warned the public about a growing number of scams conducted via WhatsApp, where scammers hack accounts and request money from victims' contacts.

Assistant Superintendent of Police W. G. Jayanethsiri of the CID said that the department has received a significant increase in complaints regarding such incidents over the past few days.

Speaking during a programme on the Sri Lanka Police YouTube channel, ASP Jayanethsiri explained how these scams typically operate.

"Scammers first obtain the phone number of a person who holds a recognized position in society. They then send a message resembling that person's usual communication style - for example, an invitation to join a ...