Sri Lanka, April 7 -- Police have issued a warning to the public to be vigilant of possible financial fraud and data theft via the internet during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season.

The Police Media Division yesterday (6) said that as the festive season approaches, there is a trend of increasing financial fraud and data theft committed via the internet by criminals exploiting such an opportunity with increased use of the internet for purchases, payments, and other transactions during this period.

Police have warned the public to not get caught to fraudulent advertisements, fake links, 'Avurudu offers', and giveaways, bogus commercial websites, fake bank promotions, phishing emails and SMS messages, caller ID spoofing, and QR code sc...