Rise in scams involving fake bookings and fraudulent refund requests following cancellations!
30 ޖުލައި 2026 | ބުރާސްފަތި 08:14Police have recovered MVR 72,073 out of more than MVR 180,000 lost to various scams over the past week. Amid a surge in fraudulent schemes involving fake booking cancellations, authorities are urging the public to exercise caution and verify all transactions through official bank statements before proceeding with any financial dealings.
A conceptual image illustrating online scam activities and cybercrime, depicting how fraudsters exploit victims through digital devices and deceptive transactions on social media platforms such as Facebook Marketplace. | RaajjeMV
The Maldives Police Service's Anti-Scam Centre has reported 33 cases of fraud between July 19 and 25, with latest statistics highlighting a significant rise in booking-related scams during this period.
Speaking to RaajjeMV, the Police Anti-Scam Centre highlighted that booking cancellations and refund scams have become one of the most prevalent issues recently. Regarding the modus operandi, scammers typically contact hotels, guesthouses, or apartments through social media platforms to make initial bookings.
Following this, they send a fraudulent payment receipt or transfer slip. They then claim an emergency has occurred, necessitating the cancellation of the booking, and request an immediate refund of the funds.
To prevent such fraudulent activities, authorities urge the public not to issue refunds based solely on payment slips or transfer screenshots. It is essential to always verify that funds have actually been deposited into the account by checking official bank statements.
According to the center, cases reported last week involved a total loss of MVR 184,235 to the public. Through the efforts of relevant authorities, MVR 72,073 of the stolen funds has been successfully recovered.
According to statistics from the past week, e-commerce and online shopping transactions accounted for the highest number of reported scams. Specifically, 16 cases related to online trading were reported, alongside seven cases involving booking cancellations and refund fraud, and five cases concerning various other types of online deceptive practices.
Furthermore, four cases involving illegal foreign currency exchange and one case of impersonation—where funds were obtained by using a fake ID or through fraudulent deception—were reported during this period.
Scammers primarily utilize online messaging platforms, phone calls, and suspicious links to carry out these fraudulent activities. Furthermore, a significant number of deceptive transactions have been observed through popular online marketplaces in the Maldives, such as iBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Furthermore, it is essential to strictly adhere to official institutional policies and standard bank transfer procedures when processing refunds. Consequently, the Anti-Scam Center has urged the public to refrain from conducting any financial transactions in haste without proper verification, regardless of any external pressure.
