Police recover over MVR 200,000 lost to online scams
Between 28 September and 4 October, police recorded 42 reports of scam-related crimes, with total losses amounting to MVR 318,342.50.
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Police have recovered more than MVR 200,000 lost to scams over the past week, according to a statement issued on Thursday.
Between 28 September and 4 October, police recorded 42 reports of scam-related crimes, with total losses amounting to MVR 318,342.50. Of that amount, MVR 221,243.33 has so far been recovered, police said.
The Anti-Scam Centre reported that online business and e-commerce scams accounted for most of the cases, with 19 incidents registered during the week. Other categories included:
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6 cases related to foreign exchange transactions;
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7 cases involving impersonation;
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3 cases linked to phishing, vishing, and job scams;
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7 other miscellaneous cases.
Police noted that phone calls remain the most common method used by scammers. In addition, scams were conducted through online platforms such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and other messaging applications, often using phishing links to collect personal information.
Authorities have urged the public to verify the identity of individuals or companies before transferring money or sharing personal information.
Police also advised residents to enable two-factor authentication on digital platforms and to report any suspected scam cases immediately to assist ongoing investigations.
