The Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development has cautioned students of government scholarships and loans, over the increase in scam calls being made to extort funds.

The ministry has confirmed that the ministry would not contact loan and scholarship students for funds in any way.

If a student receives such a call, the ministry has noted that it is a scam call.

The ministry has also urged students to avoid providing any of their personal information or details and to be aware of such fraudulent calls.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, a student revealed that it has been a week since students have been receiving scam calls.

The scammers are evidently attempting to sway them to send funds in the name of “extending visas” and “purchasing tickets”.

The scammers are also reportedly telling students that the release of their stipend funds would only be expedited by the government, if they cooperate.

The ministry’s directive urging students to be cautious of these scams comes at a time the issue of the government’s failure to provide students their stipend funds, has made the spotlight.

RaajjeMV has learned that students on scholarship abroad have been in distress due to lack of funds and the government’s failure to provide them their stipend allowances.

Several have been flooding social media platforms with concerns regarding this issue, saying that students abroad are broke.

When reached out by RaajjeMV, Chief Spokesperson at the President’s Office Heena Waleed brushed off these claims, claiming that there was “no such issue”.

Heena noted that the reports circulating on social media claiming that students who are on scholarships abroad are not getting their due stipends are false and they will continue to receive the money as they have been.

However, speaking regarding the issue, Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Dr. Mariyam Mariya told media that there has been a delay in depositing money for the students.

According to the minister, the process is getting delayed due to lack of USD availability.

Bank of Maldives (BML) amended the regulations for Maldivian students abroad on the purchasing of USD 1,000 as a limit earlier, and notified the issuance of USD as per the stipend set by the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, at the country the student is based.

The incumbent administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had in December 2023 announced that students abroad would be able to withdraw USD 1,200 per month from their credit and debit cards of BML, starting February 2024.

However, this was not implemented.

It was also a presidential pledge of Muizzu to ensure banks lift the limit on USD purchase.

However, the government has failed to follow through with this pledge or even comment on it.