Police advice public of increase in USD exchange fraud

Maldives Police Service has warned the public of an increase in fraud in the exchange of United States dollar, where people deceivingly collect money promising sell USD at a good rate.

As an increased number of people look to go abroad for holidays and medical checkups, the demand for USD has increased since the school holiday season started.

Police revealed that they have received reports of people fleeing after collecting money, promising to sell USD for at a reasonable rate.

“We have also noticed that people approach lone victims walking on the streets, deceivingly offer to find USD, get on behind the motorcycles of the victims and lead them to isolated areas to collect the money,” the police statement read.

Police said the perpetrators try to convince the victims that they will call when they have secured the USD and that the majority of mobile numbers they exchange are registered to foreign laborers. Police also said the perpetrators are well dressed to give to impression that they have the money.

Police have advised the public to deal with well known sources when trying to obtain USD and to never give large amounts of money to unknown individuals.