{"id":9144,"date":"2023-11-18T10:46:45","date_gmt":"2023-11-18T10:46:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=9144"},"modified":"2023-11-18T14:13:58","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T14:13:58","slug":"beware-of-the-viral-scam-sri-lankan-airport-is-not-holding-a-lost-luggage-sale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/beware-of-the-viral-scam-sri-lankan-airport-is-not-holding-a-lost-luggage-sale\/","title":{"rendered":"Beware of Scammers; SL Airport is NOT holding a Lost Luggage Sale!\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Misleading information is often disseminated on social media platforms in the form of scams to tarnish the reputation of prominent institutions. Such a scam went viral in Sri Lanka in the form of an official message from the country\u2019s international airport. Let\u2019s look at the claim in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Media Post:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A Facebook advertisement indicating that lost luggage from Bandaranaike International Airport would soon be up for sale made rounds with the below text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is not an auction! We sell lost luggage for $1!\u00a0<\/em> We are urgently emptying the airport warehouse and selling luggage lost more than 6 months ago. To buy, go to the website and place an order! \ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffbThe quantity is limited.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Facebook<\/strong><\/a> | <\/strong>Archived Link<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Archived Link<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have taken steps to check the accuracy of this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact Check :<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Initially, we verified if Bandaranaike International Airport had shared any information or ads regarding the sale of passengers’ lost luggage on their official social media accounts and pages. However, we did not come across any such reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airport & Aviation Services Requests Customers to Be Weary of the Scam<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We contacted Shehan Sumanasekara, Director – Chief Operations (All Airports) and board member at Airport & Aviation Services Sri Lanka, to inquire about the procedure regarding passengers’ lost luggage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Sumanasekara clarified that the social media post was a scam propagated by a Facebook page impersonating the Bandaranaike International Airport. Additionally, he emphasized that there is no fee for handling passengers’ lost luggage and assured that it is securely held at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) premises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official Facebook page of BIA explicitly stated that this is a fraudulent scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n