How to Spot Fake Ads and Avoid Scams

The price is far below normal

සාමාන්‍ය මිලට වඩා බොහෝ අඩු මිලක්

A phone, vehicle or room offered at a fraction of the usual price is the most common sign of a scam. The low price is there to make you act quickly without checking. Compare with similar ads before you get excited.

They ask for money before you see anything

කිසිවක් දැකීමට පෙර මුදල් ඉල්ලීම

Requests for an advance, a "booking fee", a delivery charge, or a reload card before you have seen the item or met the person are a strong warning sign. Genuine sellers and landlords are normally willing to let you see first.

Job ads that ask you to pay for registration, training, a uniform or a visa before you start work should be treated the same way.

They push you to hurry

ඉක්මන් කරන්න බල කිරීම

Phrases like "many people are asking, pay now to keep it" are used to stop you thinking carefully. Take your time. A real deal will usually still be there tomorrow.

The story keeps changing

කතාව වෙනස් වීම

If the seller says they are abroad, cannot meet, can only send the item by courier, or gives different details each time you ask, be careful. Ask simple questions about the item and see if the answers match the ad.

Photos and contact details don't match

ඡායාරූප සහ විස්තර නොගැලපීම

Watermarks from other websites, professional catalogue photos for a used item, or the same photos appearing in several ads with different names can all point to a fake listing.

What to do

කළ යුතු දේ

If something feels wrong, stop and protect yourself.

• Do not send money, OTP codes or bank details.
• Meet in a busy public place and inspect before paying.
• Use the Report button on the ad so the Lanka Ads+ team can review it.
• If you have lost money, contact your bank and the police as soon as possible.