Scam Reports
Browse verified scam reports from across Sri Lanka. 8 reports found.
Fake Daraz seller shipping empty box instead of laptop — seller account deleted
Ordered an Acer Aspire laptop for LKR 165,000 from a Daraz seller with seemingly good ratings. The price was about 20% below other sellers. When the package arrived via courier, the box contained rocks and old newspapers instead of the laptop. The package was sealed and looked legitimate from outside. By the time I tried to file a complaint, the seller's account had been deleted from Daraz. I've filed a dispute with Daraz and they're investigating, but the seller appears to have created a fake account with bought reviews. Always check seller history carefully and use cash-on-delivery when possible.
Lottery scam via SMS claiming Dialog Mega Jackpot win of Rs 5 million
Received an SMS stating I had won the "Dialog Mega Jackpot" worth LKR 5,000,000. The message asked me to contact a "claims officer" via WhatsApp. The claims officer asked for my NIC copy, bank details, and a "processing fee" of LKR 10,000 to release the prize money. They sent an official-looking "winner certificate" with Dialog's logo. Dialog has confirmed on their website that they do not run any such lottery. This is a common scam targeting Dialog subscribers. I did not pay the processing fee.
Romance scam on Instagram — pretended to be a UK-based Sri Lankan doctor
Someone contacted me on Instagram claiming to be a Sri Lankan doctor working in the UK. Over 3 months, they built a relationship through daily messages and video calls (which were always "having technical issues" so only audio worked). Eventually, they said they wanted to visit Sri Lanka and asked me to help pay for their "ticket" (LKR 150,000) because their "bank account was frozen due to a work visa issue." They promised to repay double when they arrived. After transferring the money, they continued with more excuses asking for more payments — customs fees, hotel booking, COVID tests. Total sent: LKR 350,000. The photos used were stolen from a real doctor's social media. The Instagram account has since been deleted.
Fake Dialog payment portal stealing credit card information
I received a professional-looking email claiming to be from Dialog Axiata, saying my bill payment failed and I needed to update my payment method. The email had Dialog's logo and branding. The link took me to a website that looked exactly like Dialog's payment portal. I entered my credit card details before realizing it was fake. Within 2 hours, there were 3 unauthorized transactions on my card totaling LKR 45,000. I immediately called my bank to block the card. The fake website URL was "dialog-payment.secure-billing.com". Dialog has confirmed this is not their website. My bank is investigating the fraudulent transactions.
Job scam on LinkedIn offering remote data entry work — demanded registration fee
A recruiter on LinkedIn messaged me about a "Work from home data entry position" with a company called "Global Data Solutions Ltd." They offered LKR 75,000/month salary for part-time work. The interview was conducted over WhatsApp (not a proper video call). They sent me an "offer letter" on a letterhead and asked me to pay LKR 15,000 as a "registration and training fee" to get started. After I refused and did some research, I found the company doesn't exist. The LinkedIn profile of the "recruiter" was recently created with stock photos. Several other people in Sri Lanka had received the same messages.
Phishing SMS pretending to be from People's Bank asking to verify account
Received an SMS that appeared to be from People's Bank saying my account would be suspended unless I verify my details immediately. The message included a link to a fake website that looked exactly like the People's Bank online banking portal. The URL was "peoples-bank-lk.verify-account.com" — not the real bank website. The fake site asked for my NIC number, account number, PIN, and one-time password. Fortunately, I noticed the URL was wrong before entering sensitive information. I'm reporting this so others don't fall for it. The SMS came from a regular mobile number, not the bank's official number.
WhatsApp investment scam promising 300% returns in crypto trading
I was added to a WhatsApp group called "Sri Lanka Crypto Millionaires Club" without my consent. The group admin claimed to be a professional crypto trader and showed screenshots of huge profits. They asked members to invest minimum LKR 50,000 through a website called "cryptoprofitlk.com" (now offline). They promised 300% returns within 2 weeks. I invested LKR 100,000. Initially, the dashboard showed my "profits" growing. When I tried to withdraw, they asked for a "withdrawal fee" of LKR 25,000. After paying that, the website went down and the WhatsApp group was deleted. Total loss: LKR 125,000. The website was not registered with the SEC of Sri Lanka.
Fake iPhone 15 Pro deal on Facebook Marketplace — seller vanished after payment
I found an ad on Facebook Marketplace offering an iPhone 15 Pro for LKR 85,000 — way below market price. The seller had a seemingly legitimate profile with photos and friends. After chatting, they asked me to transfer money to a Sampath Bank account. They promised next-day delivery via courier. After I transferred the money, the seller stopped responding. Their Facebook profile was deleted within hours. The bank account name didn't match the Facebook profile name. I've filed a police report but wanted to warn others. The seller was using a Colombo phone number starting with 077.