17. Online cheating

Any person, whether in or outside Sri Lanka who deceives any person by communicating a false statement, by way of an online account or through an online location-

fraudulently or dishonestly induces the person so deceived to deliver any property to any person, or to consent that any person shall retain any property;

intentionally induces the person so deceived to do or omit to do anything which he would not do or omit, if he was not so deceived, and which act or omission causes or is likely to cause harm to that person in body, mind, reputation, or property, or damage or loss to the Government, commits the offence of “online cheating” and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or to a fine not exceeding seven hundred thousand rupees, or to both such imprisonment and fine.