Police Respond to Escalating Fraud Cases with Plans for Anti-Scam Centre

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan has revealed plans to establish an anti-scam centre to address the surge in scams and fraudulent activities. Speaking on a Public Service Media (PSM) program, Shifan disclosed that the police will roll out the anti-scam centre as a key component of their Strategic Action Plan for the next five years.

Shifan emphasized the urgency of addressing scam offences, stating that they have become a significant concern for the public, making it the second most prevalent crime after drug cases.

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“We are establishing an anti-scam centre very soon as part of this strategic plan,” he affirmed, adding that the concept of an anti-scam centre has been proven effective in numerous countries across the globe. 

The proposed anti-scam centre will serve as the primary point of contact for scam cases nationwide.

 “We will immediately take all necessary steps to prevent a victim from being further victimized, in collaboration with the banks to protect the person and do whatever is necessary for them,” he stated.

While an exact timeline for the anti-scam centre has not been provided, Shifan assured the public that the initiative will be rolled out soon.

The announcement comes in the wake of alarming statistics, with over MVR 150 million reportedly lost to various scams since records began in 2021. Superintendent of Police Abdulla Rasheed revealed that the Economic Crime Department had received 28,003 cases of scams, reporting a total loss of MVR 57.8 million.