The mango shaped quaint little island is fast becoming a famous tourist destination due to some clever marketing and its golden beaches, thriving wildlife, cuisine and everybody’s favorite tea.
This boom in tourism, however, is drawing some who seek to take advantage of the kindness of the tourists who visit it. It is therefore wise to be alert for such scams in order to make your visit to Sri Lanka one that is without incident.

1. The very expensive tuk-tuks

A common scam perpetrated across Southeast Asia, the tuk-tuk drivers will offer to take you to the festival that apparently is a must-see at a low cost. The low cost, however, turns out to be one that is inflated by around 10 times the usual fare once you reach the destination.

How to avoid- ask the tuk-tuk drivers to turn their meter on and ensure that you have google maps on your phone to prevent longer than necessary routes. Uber and several other ride-booking services are also available.

2. The charities that need your help

Walking around Colombo or Kandy, you are bound to meet some well-dressed individuals who will approach and tell you of the charity they are affiliated with and how it requires donations urgently.

How to avoid- say no firmly and steer clear of such individuals. If you are keen on donating to a charity there are many that are registered and can use your donations.

3. The cheap gym or tea scam

Once in Sri Lanka, you will be met with some who claim to be able to supply you with heavily discounted gems and tea right to your doorstep in your home country. These gems and tea, needless to say, turn out to be duds or of very low quality.

How to avoid- say no to offers of such nature. Purchase gems and tea from reputed sellers and carry them with you.

4. The helpful tour guide

The helpful tour guide who is not affiliated with any tourist agency or is not certified by the government will take you to places of his choosing where the prices of goods will be inflated so that he receives a percentage of the profits.

How to avoid- use tour guides from reputed tour agencies and those that are certified by the government.

5. The milk powder mafia

There will be women with children on their arms approaching you asking for milk powder to feed their babies. The sympathetic tourist is then taken to a shop of the woman’s choosing where the milk powder turns out to very expensive.

The milk powder purchased is then returned to the shop owner and the profits shared between them.

How to avoid- do not engage. A firm no will deter such individuals.

6. Credit card scams

There have been reports of ATMs been rigged with card skimmers and copying your data to withdraw money. Such skimming is also reported in restaurants where the servers take your card in the guise of verifying your transactions.

How to avoid- do not let your cards out of sight. Use cash as much as possible.

7. Low-quality safari trips

Sri Lanka has some unique wildlife and is a must-see.

Such safari trips, however, must not be booked with locals who own a vehicle or tuk-tuk drivers as the prices will be very inflated and the tour of low quality.

How to avoid- book safari trips through reputed travel agencies or hotels as the safari drivers know their behavior is a reflection on the hotel and take care to provide a good experience

8. The teacher

A respectable-looking, well-dressed gentleman who turns out to be a teacher of a local school for orphans will seek you out asking for donations.

How to avoid- avoid such conversations entirely

9. Foreign exchange scam

Some restaurants and locations catering to foreigners only accept foreign currencies. The issue, however, is the criminally high exchange rates that are being used when converting the local prices.

How to avoid- it is usually wise to avoid such places entirely. If you visit, however, get clear on the exchange rates that will be used when producing the bill.

10. Pickpockets and bag snatchers

There is an abundance of pickpockets and bag snatchers in tourist hotspots, who if you are not careful will do a fast job of separating you from your money.

How to avoid- avoid taking large amounts of cash or any important documents with you. Keep a watchful eye on your surroundings and your personal belongings close.