Three Arrested Over MVR 32,000 WhatsApp Scam

Maldives Police Service have arrested three men in connection with an online scam that defrauded a victim of MVR 32,000 via WhatsApp earlier this month.

The case was officially lodged with the Maldives Police Service on October 13, alleging that the suspects communicated with the victim through the messaging platform to fraudulently obtain the funds.

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Authorities identified the suspects as Hussain Sameer, 40, Mohamed Reehan, 33 and Ahmed Sujau, 46.

Upon being presented to court for their remand hearings, the court ordered Sameer and Sujau to be remanded in custody for 15 days, while Reehan was remanded for a period of seven days.

Police confirmed that the investigation into the scam remains ongoing.

The arrests come amid growing concern over digital fraud, with Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed recently revealing that cybercrime cases in the Maldives doubled during the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2025. 

According to the Commissioner of Police, social media scams accounted for 68 per cent of all reported offences, driven largely by perpetrators exploiting low public awareness through deceptive messaging, phishing links, and shared one-time passwords (OTPs). 

Authorities have continued to urge the public to remain vigilant, implement two-factor authentication, and avoid trusting unverified online contacts. 

އޮންލައިންކޮށް ހިންގި 32،000 ރުފިޔާގެ ސްކޭމްގެ މައްސަލައަކާ ގުޅިގެން ތިންމީހުން ހައްޔަރުކޮށްފިއެވެ. މި މައްސަލައަކީ ވަޓްސްއެޕް މެދުވެރިކޮށް ވާހަކަދައްކައި، މަކަރާއި ހީލަތުން ފައިސާ އަތުލާފައިވާ ކަމަށް، 2026 އޮކްޓޫބަރު 13 ވަނަ ދުވަހު ހުށަހަޅާފައިވާ މައްސަލައެކެވެ. ⭕ އިތުރު ތަފުސީލު: https://t.co/h6zDbhYxDR— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) October 25, 2026