Official train tickets sold out. Is it safe to buy from "Agents" on WhatsApp?
The Kandy-Ella train is fully booked for next week. I found a guy on a Facebook group who says he has 1st Class tickets but is charging 3x the price (8,000 LKR).
He wants me to bank transfer the money first, then he will send the PDF. Is this a scam?
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1 Answer from travellers
Be extremely cautious. The "Train Ticket Black Market" is rife with scammers right now.
The Real Agents: There are legitimate resellers who book bulk tickets and resell them. They usually meet you in person at the station or have a verified agency website.
The Scammers: Anyone asking for a Bank Transfer (especially to a personal account) before sending the ticket is likely a scammer. Once you send the money, they block you.
The Verification: Ask him to send a photo of the physical ticket (or the PDF with the date visible) before you pay.
Better Option: Just show up at the station early and buy a 3rd Class ticket. It’s $1, requires no reservation, and is an authentic experience. Don't feed the scalpers!
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