The Maldives Police Service has issued a warning to the public amid a growing number of scams being conducted under the pretext of foreign exchange trading. The Cyber Crime Department has reported a notable rise in such cases in recent months, prompting a nationwide alert.

According to authorities, scammers are increasingly operating through popular social messaging platforms such as Viber, Telegram, and WhatsApp, often posing as foreign currency dealers offering attractive exchange rates. 

The Cyber Crime Department has reiterated the importance of verifying the legitimacy of any agent offering foreign exchange services, through the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), noting that the list of licensed dealers is published on the central bank’s official website.

In addition to scams related to currency exchange, the Cyber Crime Department has highlighted an increase in cases involving the hacking of Viber accounts. In several instances, fraudsters have gained access to personal accounts and impersonated account holders to extort money from friends and family. Authorities stressed the importance of not sharing OTP (One-Time Password) codes and urged individuals to confirm the identity of recipients before transferring funds.

To address the situation, the Maldives Police Service has recently established a dedicated anti-scam call centre to centralise responses to such incidents. From the moment a case is reported, the centre coordinates with financial institutions and relevant agencies to take immediate action and mitigate further harm.

Officials confirmed that scam reports can now be lodged through multiple channels, including the national emergency line 911, anti-scam hotline 125 (extension 2020) and via email at [email protected]. Facilities have also been made available in Malé and across the atolls to accommodate in-person reports.

Police have urged anyone who suspects they have been targeted in a scam to report the incident promptly, including full details of the transaction.