Over half a million Rufiyaa lost to scammers last week

Over half a million Rufiyaa were stolen from unsuspecting victims in various scams during the first week of December, according to the latest statistics shared by the police.

On Sunday, the Anti-Scam Center shared an update on scam cases reported to the police during the one-week period from November 30 – December 6.

The police received reports regarding 48 scam cases during the period.

The cases resulted in losses of MVR 546,090.27. The police managed to recover MVR 180,109 during the period.

According to police, the most frequent scams last week were impersonations and e-commerce scams.

Scam topology:

• Impersonation: 18 cases
• E-commerce: 15 cases
• Phishing, vishing, and job offer scams: 6 cases
• Currency exchange: 4 cases
• Other types: 5 cases

The most frequent platforms used for these scams include online messaging platforms, iBay, phone class, Facebook Marketplace, and unknown links.

The police urge the public to remain vigilant regarding scams.

Quick safety tips:

• Impersonation: If family/friend asks for details, verify the chat using the family/friends contact number. NEVER share your OTP or PIN.
• E-commerce: Avoid making prepayments to unknown sellers. Use secure payment methods and inspect goods before completing the transaction.
• Phishing/links: Do not click on suspicious links or provide personal data in response to unsolicited messages.

The police also urge victims to report scams immediately in order to improve chances for recovery of money.