He asked people not to pay them as the lending process was illegal.

Following the revelation by the minister, the country's Computer Crime Investigation Division has arrested six people, including five Chinese nationals, involved in the crime.

According to reports, the arrested Chinese nationals included three women.

The police who conducted the investigation have discovered that the personal data in the phone of the person taking the loan is secretly obtained by the said institution through the application provided for downloading while applying for the loan, reported Mawrata News.

Investigation revealed institution providing the loan was being run from a place in Dehiwala area in the Island Country that is fighting economic crisis.