Online scams are on the rise; beware of a new "repair" scam circulating through Facebook Marketplace!
The Maldives Police Service has issued a warning regarding a new scam where fraudsters claim to have repaired items sold on Facebook Marketplace to extort money from unsuspecting users. To avoid falling victim to such schemes, authorities urge the public to verify the identity of individuals they interact with and refrain from transferring funds to unknown parties. This warning comes as recent statistics reveal that the public has lost over 27 million Rufiyaa to various scams within the past year alone.
This is a scam call. The police have urged the public to refrain from sharing personal information with unknown individuals. | Shutter Stock | ShutterStock
The Maldives Police Service's Anti-Scan Centre has issued a public warning regarding a new "repair" scam circulating on Facebook Marketplace.
Police reported on Monday that they have identified a new fraudulent tactic targeting sellers on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace to swindle money.
Detailing the mechanics of the scam, police explained that fraudsters initially target items listed as "sold" on online marketplaces. They then contact the seller via phone or message, gaining their trust by claiming to be the technician who repaired the item. According to the police, the scammers then demand payment for these alleged repair services. To further legitimize the deception, they occasionally provide the victims with fraudulent receipts or invoices.
Highlighting the need for increased vigilance to avoid such scams, the police advised the public against transferring money to unknown individuals. Furthermore, they urged citizens not to send any payments to parties requesting money for repairs that were not personally authorized or commissioned by the owner.
Police have advised the public to verify all details when engaging in such transactions. They emphasized the importance of confirming the identity of the individual claiming to have performed the repairs and verifying who originally authorized the handover of the goods.
Furthermore, police advised the public to verify bank account numbers and check whether the designated recipient account has been previously reported for involvement in scams.
Police have reported a significant surge in online scams across the Maldives, as fraudsters employ increasingly sophisticated tactics to swindle money from the public.
According to official statistics, the Anti-Scam Center received a total of 2,259 reports between March 17, 2025, and March 17, 2026. Of these cases, 50 percent were related to e-commerce or online business transactions. The second most frequent category involved scams conducted through currency exchange services.
Over the past year, scams have resulted in a total loss of MVR 27,564,410, of which MVR 10,190,879 has been successfully recovered.
