Three Arrested Over Facebook Marketplace Scams in Noonu Atoll

Maldives Police Service arrested three men from Noonu Atoll this week over allegations of defrauding victims of MVR 60,000 in two separate Facebook Marketplace scams involving false listings for a dinghy and an engine.

The suspects were identified as Ali Affan, 32, and Mohamed Hameed, 34, both from Noonu Holhudhoo, along with Hassaan Ali, 34, from Noonu Velidhoo.

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According to authorities, Hassaan Ali was arrested in Velidhoo on 25 October in connection with an incident reported on September 2, 2026. He is accused of deceiving a buyer on Facebook Marketplace by promising to sell a dinghy and fraudulently obtaining MVR 30,000. Following his arrest under a court warrant, the court remanded him in custody for 15 days.

The remaining two suspects, Affan and Hameed, were taken into custody on 24 October from Holhudhoo. Police allege the pair defrauded another individual of MVR 30,000 on 7 August by falsely advertising an engine for sale on the same platform. Both men were also remanded in custody for 15 days under court orders.

Police confirmed that investigations into both cases remain ongoing.

މި ދެމައްސަލައާ ގުޅިގެން ހައްޔަރުކޮށްފައިވަނީ، ހީނާގެ / ނ. ހޮޅުދޫ، ޢަލީ ޢައްފާން (32އ) އާއި ޕްލާޒާ / ނ. ހޮޅުދޫ، މުޙައްމަދު ޙަމީދު (34އ) އަދި ވީނަސް / ނ. ވެލިދޫ، ޙައްސާނު ޢަލީ (34އ) އެވެ. ⭕ އިތުރު ތަފުސީލު: https://t.co/NUEZAdJoT6 https://t.co/2UqHOt0gUn— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) October 28, 2026