Safety & Security

Most owners, agents, buyers and tenants on IDAKADAM are genuine, but property involves large sums, so it attracts scammers. This page explains what we do to keep the marketplace safe, and the habits that protect you.

What we do

• Listing rules for every property. Listings that break our rules, including fake or unauthorised listings and misleading content, can be removed and the account restricted.
• Reporting. Every listing has a Report option. Reports go to our team, who review them.
• Owner and agent information. Profiles, account verification and reviews help you decide who to deal with.
• Bot and abuse protection. Sign-up, login and contact forms are protected against automated abuse and rapid repeated attempts.
• Secure payments to us. Package and promotion payments are made through PayHere's secure checkout. We never see or store your full card number.

A listing on IDAKADAM is not a check of ownership, title, approvals or value.

Before you buy or rent

• View the property in person, or send someone you trust. Check access, water, electricity and the boundaries.
• Meet the owner, or confirm the agent's authority. Ask to see the owner's identity and, for an agent, the written authority from the owner.
• Have an attorney-at-law check the title before you pay anything: the deeds and title history at the Land Registry, the survey plan, and the local authority's street line and non-vesting certificates. For buildings, ask about building approval and the certificate of conformity.
• Never pay a deposit, advance or "booking fee" before you have viewed the property and your lawyer has checked it. Pay through a bank transfer to the person named on the deed or agreement, not in cash to an intermediary.
• For rentals, sign a written agreement, get a receipt for every payment, and record the condition of the property when you move in.
• If a price looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Safety tips for owners and agents

• Confirm the money has arrived in your account before you sign or hand over keys. Screenshots and SMS "payment confirmations" can be faked.
• Beware of overpayment. A buyer or tenant who "accidentally" pays too much and asks for a refund of the difference is a common scam.
• Never share one-time passwords (OTPs), PINs or banking passwords. No genuine buyer needs them to pay you.
• Don't hand original deeds to anyone other than your own lawyer. Give copies for checking.
• Show the property by appointment, ideally with someone else present.

Common property scams

• Fake owners: someone lists a property they don't own, often a rental, and asks for a deposit before a viewing.
• Forged or duplicate deeds: land sold twice, or with forged documents. A title search by your lawyer protects you.
• Advance-fee scams: requests for "registration", "processing" or "booking" fees before you have seen anything.
• Phishing links: messages asking you to "verify" your account or payment on another website. We will never ask for your password, and our only website is idakadam.com.
• Pressure to move off the platform or to pay urgently is a warning sign.

If something goes wrong

1. Stop communicating and don't send any more money.
2. Use Report on the listing, or contact us with the listing link and details.
3. If you've lost money or feel threatened, contact your bank immediately and report it to the Sri Lanka Police.