Authorities report rise in financial fraud cases involving hacked Viber accounts

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has urged caution from the public due to an alarming increase in the number of cases involving financial fraud through hacked Viber accounts.

According to information issued by the Police Cyber Crime Department, there has been a significant increase in cases where money has been obtained from friends and family members through hacked Viber accounts.

The police institution has urged the public to verify the identity of the person before sending money and not to share OTP codes with anyone. They have also advised against sending money immediately upon receiving a message.

In addition to this, the Cyber Crime Department has called for awareness regarding scams conducted through hacked social media accounts or by impersonating others. The Maldives Police Service recently established a dedicated call center for reporting scam cases.

The Anti-Scam Center will centrally handle all necessary measures related to scam cases occurring throughout the country and coordinate with other relevant agencies.

From the moment a case is reported to the call center, the Anti-Scam Center will work with financial institutions to take necessary actions and obtain the required information.

The police institution revealed that scam-related cases can be reported from both within and outside the Maldives through the National Emergency Number 911, Anti-Scam Hotline 125 (extension 2020), and the Anti-Scam Center's email reportscam@police.gov.mv. MPS also revealed that such cases can still be reported to centers established in the capital Malé City as well as outlying atolls.

The police institution has requested the public to report scam cases to the Anti-Scam Center as quickly as possible in the coming days, to prevent such incidents.

In connection with scam cases, the Bank of Maldives (BML) closed 300 accounts in 2024 alone.