‘The world should stop pretending we can do this alone’: PG Abbas calls for global action on scam networks

Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef has said that countries must work together to prevent scams and technology‑enabled fraud.

Speaking at the 35th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna, Austria, the Prosecutor General said the world is rapidly advancing in technological tools, and crimes committed using those tools are increasing at the same pace. He warned that AI‑assisted fraud networks are expanding across borders, making unilateral responses ineffective.

Citing regional data, Abbas said an estimated USD 18–37 billion is lost annually to scam operations in Southeast Asian countries alone, noting that similar crimes are also committed in the Maldives.

“The World Should Stop Pretending We Can Do This Alone” – Prosecutor General Calls for Stronger Global Action Against Technology-Enabled Fraud

Speaking at the 35th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna, Prosecutor General Justice (Rtd.) Uz.… pic.twitter.com/8pigbuWUaM

— Prosecutor General’s Office (@PGO_MV) June 3, 2026

Prosecutor General Abbas stressed that preventing scams should not be treated as an isolated responsibility of individual countries. “The world should stop pretending we can do this alone,” he said, calling for stronger intelligence‑driven cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

He added that countries have unequal access to the technology and resources needed to detect and investigate sophisticated fraud networks.

For this reason, Abbas emphasized the importance of resource‑sharing and joint action, saying small countries like the Maldives depend on cooperation with larger, better‑resourced nations.

The Prosecutor General said the Maldives is ready to work with international partners and will extend full cooperation to foreign authorities conducting scam‑related investigations involving the Maldives.

Prosecutor General Justice (Rtd.) Uz. Abbas Shareef, together with Senior Public Prosecutors Mohamed Abdulla, Ashfaaq Naeem and Ahmed Aiman Ali, are representing Maldives at 35th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), taking place from 1–5… pic.twitter.com/ZTLsyL73qW

— Prosecutor General’s Office (@PGO_MV) June 1, 2026

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Maldives will participate in panel discussions throughout this year’s conference, which runs until Friday. During the sessions, Abbas met senior officials from various criminal justice systems and held extensive discussions on strengthening cooperation and mutual assistance.

This year’s delegation includes Senior Public Prosecutors Mohamed Abdulla, Ashfaaq Naeem and Ahmed Aiman Ali.

Abbas also noted that the Maldives Police Service established a dedicated Anti‑Scam Centre last year to combat fraud, and that police continue to conduct weekly public awareness campaigns on scam prevention.