Three suspects including a Nigerian National were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over a financial fraud racket via hacking email accounts last Wednesday.
They were arrested in connection with obtaining Rs.300,000 fraudulently from a Sri Lankan who is living in France by hacking his email account. Investigations have revealed that a Nigerian had hacked into an email sent by an architect living in the Moratuwa area to another Sri Lankan customer living in France who had obtained his services, changed the bank account number mentioned in the E-mail message and sent it to the relevant person.
According to the message, the person had credited Rs.300,000 to the account.
Following the complaint lodged by the victim, the 35-year-old Nigerian national was arrested in the Nugegoda area and the CID also discovered 22 fake national ID cards, 18 Bank passbooks, 29 ATM cards, 12 mobile phones, a laptop and Rs. 290,000 in cash believed to have been obtained fraudulently, in his possession. The other two suspects (aged 55 and 65) are residents of Maradana and Wellampitiya.
They were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday and ordered to be remanded until January 21.