Maldives Police Service has recovered more than MVR 124,000 from scam cases reported over the past week, according to statistics released by its Anti-Scam Centre, with a total of 51 complaints recorded between15 - 21 March.

Police said MVR 338,809.30 was reported lost in these cases, out of which MVR 124,277 was recovered, while the majority of complaints were linked to e-commerce and online voucher scams, accounting for 27 cases. Other reported incidents included impersonation, money laundering and various scam-related activities.

According to the Anti-Scam Centre, scammers most commonly used phone calls, online messaging platforms, phishing links, iBay transactions and Facebook Marketplace listings to target victims, highlighting the continued use of digital platforms in fraudulent activities.

Police have advised the public to verify the authenticity of sellers before making online payments, avoid sharing personal information and enable two-factor authentication on applications, while also urging individuals to report incidents promptly, noting that early reporting increases the chances of recovering lost funds.

Scam cases can be reported through the National Emergency Call Centre by dialling 911 or 125 (extension 2020), or via email at [email protected].