Over 35 Scam Cases Reported in One Week as Losses Exceed MVR 118,000

A total of 36 scam-related cases were reported to the Maldives Police Service between 7 and 13 June, with victims losing MVR 118,370.05 during the period.

According to police statistics, e-commerce scams linked to online shopping accounted for the majority of cases, with 26 reports filed. The remaining cases included five incidents of online fraud, four impersonation scams and one case involving a fraudulent foreign currency exchange scheme.

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The Maldives Police Service stated that MVR 164,240.60 was recovered during the same period through the efforts of the Police Anti-Scam Centre and other relevant authorities. The recovered amount included funds from both newly reported cases and investigations launched earlier.

Police said many of the scams were carried out through online messaging platforms, telephone calls and fraudulent links. A significant number of cases were also linked to online marketplaces, including iBay and Facebook Marketplace.

Authorities have urged the public to exercise greater caution when conducting online transactions and shopping through digital platforms. The Anti-Scam Centre advised individuals to verify information before trusting online communications and to be cautious when dealing with unknown persons.

Police also warned the public against opening suspicious links and sharing One-Time Passwords (OTP), banking details or credit card information with others. Individuals were encouraged to verify any suspicious activity directly through official websites and applications before taking action.

The latest figures highlight the continued prevalence of online scams in the Maldives and the ongoing efforts by authorities to recover lost funds and raise public awareness of cybercrime risks.