Public losses to scams have exceeded MVR 33 million since last year: MPS
With Facebook Marketplace accounting for 95 percent of scams in the Maldives, authorities have noted a rising trend in criminals utilizing advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to orchestrate these fraudulent activities. The police have issued a public advisory particularly warning against scams related to the World Cup, urging citizens to remain vigilant regarding social media offers and to immediately report any suspicious incidents to the dedicated hotline at 125.
A conceptual image illustrating online scam activities and cybercrime depicts how fraudsters exploit victims on social media platforms, such as Facebook Marketplace, through digital devices and deceptive transactions. | RaajjeMV
The Maldives Police Service has revealed that the public has lost over MVR 33 million to various scams reported between last year and the present date.
Speaking on state media, the police revealed that more than 2,700 cases of fraud have been reported during this period.
Police have highlighted a concerning surge in financial fraud and cybercrime across the Maldives. According to statistics, 90 percent of scams reported in the country are orchestrated locally. Furthermore, police authorities stated that 99 percent of these cases are carried out through various social media platforms.
The police have identified "Facebook Marketplace" as the primary platform for such criminal activities, accounting for 95 percent of all reported scams. As scamming techniques evolve alongside modern technology, authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant against "deepfake" content generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Furthermore, the police highlighted a rise in "trend-based" scams linked to the ongoing World Cup excitement. Authorities noted that several scam accounts surfaced on social media on the tournament's opening day; these accounts have since been deactivated. Police confirmed that investigations into these cases are ongoing.
Police have advised the public not to assume that every social media request is from a genuine individual and to remain vigilant against offers promising unrealistically high returns. Furthermore, authorities have urged anyone who falls victim to a scam to report the incident as soon as possible by contacting the police hotline at 125.
