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In the wake of recent devastating floods in Sri Lanka, authorities are warning citizens about fraudulent social media posts targeting vulnerable disaster victims. A deceptive message circulating widely on Facebook and WhatsApp has raised significant concerns among relief organizations and government officials.
The misleading post claims to be from “International Human Rights Global Operations, Child and Women’s Unit” and offers to take responsibility for children under 18 who lost their parents in the floods. The message states they will provide education, food, and safety “regardless of nationality or religion,” while requesting people to share information about affected children.
An investigation into the legitimacy of this offer revealed several red flags. No mainstream media outlets have reported on this initiative, and more importantly, no responsible institution or government authority in Sri Lanka has verified the organization’s existence or its relief efforts.
The supposed “International Human Rights Global Operations” does not appear on any list of registered NGOs in Sri Lanka, according to the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organizations. Attempts to contact the organization through the phone number provided in the post were unsuccessful as the number was disconnected.
In response to this emerging threat, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs issued an official statement confirming that the message is fraudulent. The Ministry warned that the post was created and distributed by “fake data collectors and traffickers” attempting to gather personal information under the guise of providing disaster relief.
“It has been observed that numerous text messages are circulating on social media platforms claiming to provide relief to people affected by Cyclone Ditwa while collecting personal information of victims,” the Ministry stated. The warning was subsequently re-shared by the Government Information Department to increase public awareness.
Child protection experts emphasize that sharing sensitive information about vulnerable children through unverified channels poses significant risks. Instead of responding to such posts, authorities urge citizens to contact official child protection agencies like the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) through their hotline at 1929 if they know of children in danger.
The government has established proper channels for disaster relief through District and Divisional Secretariats and Grama Niladharis who are systematically collecting data required for providing post-disaster services. These official processes ensure that legitimate aid reaches those who need it most while protecting their privacy and security.
This incident highlights a troubling pattern often seen in the aftermath of natural disasters worldwide, where bad actors exploit public goodwill and the chaos of emergency situations to collect personal data or perpetrate scams. Digital security experts recommend extreme caution when sharing any personal information online, particularly during crisis periods.
For citizens wanting to help flood victims, authorities recommend contacting established relief organizations or government agencies directly rather than responding to unverified social media posts.
The Sri Lankan government continues to coordinate official relief efforts for those affected by Cyclone Ditwa, working through verified channels to ensure assistance reaches legitimate victims while protecting vulnerable populations from potential exploitation.
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13 Comments
This is a heartbreaking situation. Exploiting flood victims through fake social media posts is a new low. I hope the Sri Lankan government can quickly shut down these fraudulent schemes and ensure genuine relief efforts can reach those in need.
Shameful that some would try to exploit the suffering of flood victims in Sri Lanka. It’s good the authorities are working to expose these false social media claims and protect vulnerable people. Proper vetting of aid organizations is crucial in crisis situations.
It’s troubling to see false social media claims emerge in the wake of the Sri Lankan floods. I commend the government for investigating these suspicious offers and warning the public. Proper vetting of aid organizations is crucial to prevent exploitation of disaster victims.
Scammers trying to take advantage of a crisis situation is truly disappointing. I’m glad the Sri Lankan authorities are exposing these fraudulent social media posts and working to protect vulnerable flood victims. Legitimate relief efforts must be the priority.
Yes, it’s crucial that people only donate through verified channels to ensure the aid reaches those who need it most. Kudos to the government for acting swiftly to shut down these exploitative schemes.
It’s deeply concerning to see these false claims circulating on social media during the Sri Lankan flood crisis. I’m glad the authorities are taking action to expose the scam and protect vulnerable people. Proper vetting of aid organizations is crucial in disaster response.
Absolutely. Targeting flood victims with fraudulent offers is a despicable act. The government’s swift response to investigate and warn the public is commendable. Legitimate relief efforts must be the priority.
Tragic that scammers are trying to exploit flood victims in Sri Lanka. Authorities are right to warn people about these fraudulent social media claims. It’s important to only donate through verified, legitimate channels to ensure relief efforts are properly supported.
Absolutely. Preying on vulnerable people during a disaster is despicable. I’m glad the government is working to shut down these fake relief efforts and protect victims from further exploitation.
This is an unfortunate situation. It’s disheartening to see bad actors trying to take advantage of the flood crisis in Sri Lanka. I hope the authorities can quickly identify and stop these fraudulent schemes so that genuine relief aid can reach those in need.
Agreed. Transparency and accountability are so important when it comes to disaster relief. Kudos to the government for investigating these claims and warning the public. Legitimate organizations should be the ones leading the response efforts.
This is a distressing situation. Disaster relief should be handled with the utmost care and integrity. I hope the Sri Lankan government is able to swiftly shut down these fraudulent schemes and ensure genuine aid reaches those in need.
Absolutely. Targeting vulnerable flood victims is a despicable act. I’m glad the authorities are on top of this to prevent further exploitation and direct real relief efforts to the proper channels.