First 3,000 Scam Cases Recorded at Anti-Scam Centre Result in MVR 35.1m in Reported Losses 

The first 3,000 scam cases recorded since the Maldives Police Service’s Anti-Scam Centre began operations in March 2025 resulted in reported financial losses of more than MVR 35.1 million, police data shows.

Of the total losses, MVR 13.3 million has been recovered, including full recovery in 1,196 cases and partial recovery in 279 cases.

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Online shopping scams accounted for the largest share of reported cases, with 1,478 cases recorded. Foreign currency exchange scams were the second most common category with 540 cases, followed by impersonation scams with 439 cases.

Facebook Marketplace was identified as the platform most frequently used in the reported scams, accounting for 1,093 cases, while 911 cases involved Viber.

މި 3،000 މައްސަލައިގައި އާންމުންގެ އަތުން 35 މިލިއަނަށްވުރެ ގިނަ ދިވެހި ރުފިޔާ (35,144,703.32 ރ) ވަނީ ގެއްލިފައެވެ. މީގެ ތެރެއިން ފުލުހުންނަށް އަނބުރާ ހޯދިފައިވަނީ 13 މިލިއަނަށްވުރެ ގިނަ ރުފިޔާ (13,296,072.51 ރ) އެވެ.
⭕ އިތުރު ތަފުސީލް: https://t.co/IwGE54NsPO pic.twitter.com/VinbXGFg7C— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) August 10, 2026

Police also identified Facebook, phone calls, iBay, Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok among the platforms and communication channels used in scam cases.

The data shows that scammers primarily use online shopping, fraudulent foreign currency exchanges and impersonation to defraud victims.

Police have urged the public to verify the identity of individuals and organisations before sharing personal information or making payments, particularly when transactions are arranged online.

The police also advised people not to make payments under pressure, and warned against sharing one-time passwords, account passwords and sensitive banking information.

The public has further been advised to treat online advertisements, unsolicited messages and phone calls with caution and report suspected scams to the relevant authorities immediately.