The Maldives Police Service has warned the public to exercise caution amid a surge in fraudulent medical appeals circulating on social media platforms.

According to the Anti-Scam Centre of the Maldives Police Service, 44 cases of extortion were reported between May 18 and 30, resulting in a total financial loss of MVR 899,348. Many of these scams involved fake medical assistance appeals, prompting authorities to urge the public to verify the authenticity of such posts before making financial contributions.

The public is advised to take the following precautions:

Authorities are calling for increased vigilance, especially when responding to unverified online requests for medical or financial assistance.