Pettah bus stand scams and Colombo transit safety
7 Answers from travellers
100% a classic Colombo scam. The public CTB buses are almost never completely broken down. The street touts stand at the entrances and lie to tourists to herd them into overpriced private minivans. Ignore them completely, walk right past them into the terminal, and ask a bus conductor in uniform.
Do not engage in conversation with them at all. Just shake your head and walk.
For anyone reading this, take an Uber to Makumbura Multimodal Center instead. Zero scammers there.
They actually grabbed my backpack to force me to walk with them. Keep your bags tight!
If they physically block you, shout Police loudly. The tourist police post is right next door.
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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