Recovery of scam losses reaches 70%
He advised the public to avoid unauthenticated online transactions and to verify the identity of individuals requesting money through messages or calls.
More than MVR 200,000 out of MVR 300,000 lost by the public in scam cases last week has been recovered, according to police.
The Anti-Scam Centre reported that 42 scam cases were recorded between the 29th of last month and the 4th of this month. The total financial loss from these cases amounted to MVR 322,270.
Police stated that, through the efforts of the Anti-Scam Centre and coordination with relevant authorities, MVR 227,828 was seized. This represents about 70 per cent of the total amount lost.
Online business scams accounted for the highest number of incidents during the week, with 30 cases reported. These included fraudulent sales and the sharing of false information.
In addition, four cases related to foreign currency exchange scams and four cases involving fraudulent extortion were reported. A further four cases involved scams carried out using different methods.
Police noted that no cases of phishing or job offer scams were reported during the period. They stated that this reflects an increase in public awareness.
Head Inspector of Police Adam Naveedh of the Anti-Scam Centre said that awareness remains the main method of preventing scams.
He advised the public to avoid unauthenticated online transactions and to verify the identity of individuals requesting money through messages or calls.
He also cautioned against clicking on unknown links sent via SMS or messaging applications.
Police urged the public to report any suspicious activity during or after financial transactions. They stated that early reporting can reduce the number of victims and improve the chances of recovering lost funds.
Cases can be reported to the Anti-Scam Centre by calling 2020 and dialling extension 125. Reports can also be made via the emergency number 911.
