Fake electronics and SD card scams in Pettah Market
4 Answers from travellers
Almost all SD cards and flash drives sold in the open-air stalls of Pettah are counterfeit Chinese imports. They are "spoofed" to show 128GB but will corrupt after you save 4GB of data. Never buy memory cards there. For power banks, if it feels suspiciously light, it is fake. Go to Majestic City or Liberty Plaza in Colombo for genuine electronics.
There is no consumer protection if you buy from the street carts. Once you walk away, your money is gone.
Thanks, I will take an Uber to Majestic City instead to protect my drone footage.
I bought a "JBL" speaker there. It sounded like it was playing out of a tin can and died the next day.
Scam Watch: colombo
Driver claims the meter is broken and quotes an inflated flat rate. Common on arrival at airport or railway stations when tourists are tired and disoriented.
Drivers wearing official-looking uniforms claim to be "government-approved" and charge 3-5x normal rates. They may have fake badges or ID cards.
Women with babies approach asking you to buy milk powder at a nearby shop (not cash). The shop is run by accomplices and charges 5-10x normal price.
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