Sri Lanka Police have warned consumers, particularly those in the construction industry, about a new financial scam being carried out through online marketplaces such as ikman and Facebook Marketplace.
According to police, scammers advertise asbestos sheets, cement and other construction materials online at prices significantly lower than the market rate.
After receiving an order, the scammer contacts a genuine building materials store in the customer’s area and arranges for the goods to be delivered to the customer’s home or construction site.
Once the goods are delivered, the scammer contacts the customer and instructs them to transfer payment to a bank account provided by the scammer.
The customer only realises that they have been deceived when the delivery driver or the actual building materials store owner requests payment for the goods. As a result, customers risk losing both the money transferred to the scammer and the goods they ordered.
Police have advised the public to take the following precautions:
- Do not immediately make an online payment when goods are delivered to your home or construction site.
- Contact the delivery driver or the relevant hardware store directly to verify the transaction.
- If making a bank deposit or transfer, send money only to an official bank account registered in the name of the relevant building materials store.
- Whenever possible, use the Cash on Delivery method.
