Police warn public about medical scams on social media
The centre advised members of the public to verify requests before transferring money.
The Maldives Police Service Anti-Scam Centre has urged the public to remain cautious about medical assistance requests circulated on social media.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the centre said there has been an increase in posts on Facebook using photographs of patients while requesting financial assistance for medical treatment.
According to the centre, some of these posts are part of fraudulent schemes intended to obtain money from the public.
The Anti-Scam Centre said individuals involved in such schemes often use several methods to attract attention and collect funds.
The methods identified by the centre include:
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Using photographs taken from websites or other online sources and presenting them as images of local patients
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Attempting to gain sympathy by referring to children or illnesses in the messages
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Avoiding phone calls when contacted while responding only through messages
The centre advised members of the public to verify requests before transferring money.
According to the guidance issued, individuals should attempt to contact the number provided in the post before making any payment.
The centre also suggested using reverse image search tools to check whether the photographs used in the post appear elsewhere online.
Authorities further advised the public not to share posts requesting medical assistance on social media unless the authenticity of the request has been confirmed.
