Public cautioned over scam links over housing ministry fire

A scam message is currently circulating, falsely claiming that the public can reapply for Gedhoruveriya flats following the fire at the housing ministry on the 12th of this month.

Authorities have warned the public to exercise caution and avoid falling victim to these fraudulent links.

The message, which has been spreading through messaging platforms such as Viber, directs recipients to click on a fake link to fill out a reapplication form. Police have confirmed that this message is not authentic and advised people not to engage with it.

To address concerns raised by the public, the housing ministry has reassured citizens that all data related to the Binveriya and Gedhoruveriya schemes is securely stored on cloud hosting systems and has not been affected by the fire. This assurance comes as many applicants voiced worries about the safety of their application information following the fire, which completely destroyed the housing ministry building.

In addition to the housing ministry, the fire also engulfed the construction ministry and the environment ministry. An investigative team from India has now arrived in the Maldives to assist local authorities in determining the cause of the fire.

The housing ministry urges the public to rely only on official announcements and avoid responding to unofficial messages or links. Authorities remind everyone to remain vigilant against scams, particularly in times of heightened concern and uncertainty.