Scammers Target Facebook Marketplace Sellers with New ‘Repair Fee’ Scheme, Police Warn

The Anti-Scam Centre of the Maldives Police Service has issued a warning over a new scam targeting individuals who sell goods on Facebook Marketplace, where fraudsters pose as repair technicians to extract money from unsuspecting sellers.

According to the police, scammers are exploiting listings that have already been marked as “sold,” identifying and contacting sellers under the pretense of having previously repaired the item in question. By claiming familiarity with the product, they attempt to build credibility and gain the seller’s trust.

Victims are then told that repair work has been completed, with scammers requesting payment for a supposed service or “repair fee.” In some cases, the fraudsters provide fabricated receipts or invoices to make the request appear legitimate.

Authorities cautioned that individuals should never transfer money to unknown parties for services they did not personally authorize. Sellers are advised to verify the identity of anyone claiming to have handled their item, including asking detailed questions about when and how the item was received for repair.

The Anti-Scam Centre also urged the public to check whether bank account numbers provided for payment have been previously reported in connection with fraudulent activity.

The Maldives Police Service reported that a total of MVR 1.68 million was lost to financial scams in the country last month, with 198 cases recorded. Of this amount, MVR 690,000 has been recovered in connection with 37 cases, according to the police. Most incidents were linked to e-commerce activity, accounting for 94 cases. Police advised the public to verify sellers when conducting transactions on online platforms, including Facebook Marketplace and iBay.