The Maldives Police Service has issued a public advisory urging individuals to exercise caution when exchanging US Dollars for Maldivian Rufiyaa, citing an increase in scam-related incidents involving unlicensed providers and compromised messaging accounts.
The advisory, issued following guidance from the Cyber Crime Department, stressed the importance of confirming whether currency exchange providers hold a valid permit from the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). A list of licensed providers is available on the MMA’s official website.
Police highlighted the need for vigilance to avoid falling victim to scammers operating through hacked Viber accounts, a messaging app commonly used in the Maldives. The public has been advised to verify the identity of individuals requesting money transfers and to avoid disclosing One Time Passwords (OTPs) issued by banks under any circumstances.
According to the Cyber Crime Department, there is a growing trend of theft attempts carried out through hacked social media profiles and deceptive phone calls. In response, the department has launched a dedicated call centre to handle reports of scams. The centre works closely with financial institutions to respond promptly to incidents and coordinates follow-up investigations through the police anti-scam unit.
The Maldives Police Service encouraged the public to report scam attempts without delay, either by dialling the national emergency line 911, contacting the anti-scam hotline at 125 (extension 2020), or by emailing reportscam@police.gov.mv.
Authorities underscored that timely reporting can help prevent further fraudulent activity and assist in efforts to identify those behind the scams.
