Last updated on March 18, 2025

Names and places mentioned herein are hypothetical.

Deepthi was scrolling through Facebook one afternoon when an ad for trendy new clothes caught her eye. The styles were perfect, and the prices seemed too good to pass up. Excited, she quickly clicked on the link and placed an order for a few dresses and tops.

A few days later, her package arrived. Deepthi eagerly opened it, only to find old, worn-out clothes inside! The dresses were faded, and the fabric felt cheap. She was disappointed and confused. She quickly checked their Facebook page, found the phone number, and called, but no one answered.

Feeling frustrated, Deepthi decided to reach out to Hithawathi for help. Hithawathi explained that this was a type of scam and advised Deepthi to get the seller’s details and file a formal police complaint. Hithawathi also shared tips on how to be cautious while shopping online. Deepthi thanked Hithawathi for the helpful advice.

Next time, she promised herself, she’d read reviews, check if that was well-recognized and make sure the seller was trustworthy before making any more purchases.

Precaution tips:

  • With online shopping scams being common these days, it’s safer to choose the “cash on delivery” option.
  • Always read customer reviews of online sellers and check how well-recognized they are before making a purchase.
  • Report fake business pages on Facebook.
  • Ask sellers about their exchange policy before buying.
  • File a formal police complaint or report consumer-related issues to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) in Sri Lanka to take legal action against these scams.