Tuktuk drivers claiming meters are broken during rain in Colombo
6 Answers from travellers
This is an absolute scam. Meters do not short circuit in the rain. They use the heavy rain as leverage to extort tourists who do not want to get soaked. Refuse to negotiate with them. Open the PickMe or Uber app on your phone and order a ride. The price is locked in electronically, protecting you from the street mafia.
If you threaten to call the tourist police, their meter miraculously starts working again.
Just walk into a cafe, grab a tea, and wait out the rain. Downpours rarely last more than an hour.
PickMe might surge price during rain, but it is still way cheaper than the extortion rate.
Make sure the tuk-tuk you eventually take rolls down the rain flaps on the side!
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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