Police Recover Over MVR 270,000 in First Week of March Fraud Crackdown

The Maldives Police Service has recovered more than MVR 270,000 during the first week of March following nationwide operations targeting fraudulent schemes.

According to police, the Anti-Scam Centre recorded 55 fraud cases between 1 and 7 March. Victims initially reported losses totalling around MVR 494,000. However, swift investigative efforts enabled authorities to recover a significant portion of the funds.

Data released by the Anti-Scam Centre show that e-commerce and online retail scams accounted for the largest number of incidents, with 27 cases reported during the period. Police also identified scams involving manipulation of foreign currency exchanges, impersonation to unlawfully obtain funds, the circulation of malicious links and employment-related fraud.

Seven cases were linked to foreign exchange scams, while 14 involved impersonation. A further seven cases were categorised under other types of fraudulent activity.

Investigators stated that perpetrators used a variety of platforms and tactics to deceive victims. These included direct phone calls, the local classified platform iBay, online messaging applications, phishing links and Facebook Marketplace.

Police have urged the public to take precautions to protect themselves from financial crime. Authorities advised individuals to verify the legitimacy of people or organisations before transferring money, avoid sharing personal information with unverified sources and enable two-factor authentication across digital applications.

Law enforcement authorities also stressed the importance of timely reporting, noting that prompt cooperation from victims significantly increases the chances of recovering stolen funds.