Authorities Record Over 40 Scam Incidents in a Week

The Anti-Scam Centre has recorded 42 cases, with total financial losses amounting to MVR 322,270. Through coordinated efforts with relevant authorities, MVR 227,828, over 70 per cent of the total, was seized and returned.

Online business scams were the most frequently reported, accounting for 30 of the incidents. These primarily involved fraudulent sales and the sharing of false information. Four cases related to foreign currency exchange scams and four involved extortion schemes, while another four cases used other scam methods. No phishing or job offer scams were reported during this period, indicating an increase in public awareness.

Authorities stressed the importance of vigilance and early reporting as key measures to prevent and reduce the impact of scams. The public is advised to verify the identity of individuals requesting money, avoid unauthenticated online transactions, and refrain from clicking on unknown links sent via SMS or messaging applications.

The Maldives Police Service has recovered more than MVR 200,000 of the MVR 300,000 lost by the public in scam cases last week, according to officials.

Suspected scams can be reported to the Anti-Scam Centre by calling 2020 and using extension 125, or through the emergency number 911.