MVR 33M lost to scams since last year; most scams carried out via Facebook

Maldives Police Service states approximately 2,700 scam-related cases have been reported since last year, resulting in total public losses amounting to MVR 33 million.

Speaking to state media outlet PSM, Head of the Police Anti-Scam Center, Inspector of Police Adam Naveed said there has been a notable rise in scam-related incidents from last year to the present, highlighting a significant increase in various forms of fraud and cybercrime targeting the public.

Naveed noted that, in line with global patterns, around 90 percent of scams reported in the Maldives are carried out by individuals based within the country. He detailed that 99 percent of these scams take place through social media platforms, with Police data indicating that 95 percent of social media-related scams are conducted through Facebook Marketplace.

Emphasising how scam methods continue to evolve alongside advances in technology, the Police urged the public to remain alert to "deepfake" content generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI). They also reported an increase in "trend-based scams" linked to growing public interest in the World Cup. On the opening day of the tournament, the Police identified several scam accounts operating on social media. These accounts have since been blocked, and investigations into the matter are ongoing.

The Police also highlighted major scams connected to government housing initiatives. As a precaution, Naveed advised members of the public to carry out their own due diligence before placing trust in individuals encountered online. He recommended the use of tools such as Google Reverse Image Search to verify the authenticity of photographs used on suspicious accounts.

The Maldives Police Service further urged the public not to assume that every social media friend request is legitimate and to exercise caution when presented with offers that appear too good to be true. Individuals who become victims of scams are encouraged to report incidents immediately by contacting the police hotline on 125.