Sri Lanka, Oct. 25 -- Sri Lanka Police have urged the public to exercise caution when forming relationships with strangers through dating apps and social media, warning of financial scams involving fraudulent mobile applications.

Police said several incidents had recently been reported in which scammers used dating platforms to establish friendships or romantic relationships with victims. They reportedly sent appealing messages over short or extended periods to gain trust before deceiving them.

Scammers have also approached individuals through social media and messaging platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram, claiming to offer online sexual services or opportunities to form personal relationships. Victims are then persuaded t...