The Maldives Police Service has received 33 scam-related cases over the past week alone, highlighting a continuous rise in fraudulent financial schemes across the country. According to the latest statistics released by authorities, members of the public lost a total of MVR 184,235 to scammers during this seven-day period. However, swift action by police officers enabled the recovery of MVR 72,073 of the stolen funds.
Authorities highlighted that online shopping fraud remains the most prevalent type of scam, accounting for 16 of the reported cases in the past week. To avoid falling victim to such schemes, police urged buyers to verify the authenticity and reliability of sellers before making online purchases and strongly advised against transferring money before receiving goods.
In addition, police issued a warning regarding an emerging scheme dubbed the “booking cancellation refund” scam. In these operations, fraudsters contact individuals who have booked services or accommodations, falsely claiming that their reservation was canceled. The scammers then trick victims into revealing sensitive bank account details or sending money under the guise of issuing a refund.
Merchants were also advised to remain extremely vigilant against forged bank transfer receipts. Police emphasized that businesses must independently verify that funds have successfully reached their bank account via their official mobile banking app before releasing goods or issuing any refunds.
With financial scams on the rise, authorities continue to call on the public to stay alert, practice caution during transactions, and immediately report any suspicious activities to the police.
