Police urge public to safeguard personal information

Authorities have urged the public to make safeguarding personal information a personal responsibility.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) made this appeal.

Highlighting that October marks Cyber Security Awareness Month, MPS shed light on the importance of instilling safe habits in using the internet, protecting electronic devices, and stressed on the significance of making safeguarding personal information a personal responsibility.

The police institution has stressed that this is essential to ensure the security and safety of all transactions in the digital environment.

October is recognized as the international month for raising awareness about internet-related crimes and MPS recently introduced social media platforms for the Cyber Crime Center.

The Cyber Crime Center was introduced across YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram channels.

Further, police recently warned about a circulating message claiming that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has reopened the opportunity to submit forms for flats, stating that it is not a genuine message.

Authorities have clarified that the message being circulated with an attached link, claiming that HDC has reopened the opportunity to submit forms for flats under the Gedhoruverin scheme and that forms will be available on the website, are not authentic.

The police institution also shed light on several cases where money has been fraudulently obtained from several, using email IDs.

Authorities continue to urge the public not to share such information if contacted by various parties under different names asking for personal information, email, cash card information, and other important details, as a measure to protect against such incidents.

MPS earlier appealed to pay special attention to strengthening security if the email used is for services like banking and personal uses, and not to share OTP codes received on phones with anyone.