Srilanka, Oct. 24 -- Sri Lanka Police has urged the public to exercise extreme caution when interacting with unfamiliar individuals through online platforms, particularly dating applications, as reports of financial fraud linked to such interactions continue to emerge.

In a statement, the Police Media Division said that, in many reported cases, fraudsters establish contact with victims through online platforms, claiming to seek friendship, romantic relationships, or marriage. They often engage with their targets over short or extended periods, using persuasive messages and deceptive tactics to gain their trust before exploiting them financially.

In some instances, scammers initiate contact through social media and messaging platforms s...