Police Block Over 500 Bank Accounts in Scam Crackdown

The Maldives Police revealed that over 500 bank accounts have been blocked this year in connection with scam cases. 

Senior officials from the Police and the Communications Authority of Maldives were summoned to the Parliament’s Committee on State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) to provide updates on actions taken following the SOE Committee’s report from April 10 regarding the Bank of Maldives.

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Mariyam Rasheedha, Head of the Police’s Anti-Scam Centre and Inspector of Police, reported that this year, the police have blocked 500 bank accounts, 782 device networks, and 70 web links, and terminated 297 SIM cards. She stated that 156 scam cases have been forwarded to the Prosecutor General for charges, with many now at the trial stage.

She explained that the Anti-Scam Centre was established by studying practices in countries such as Australia, Singapore, and Thailand, with the Maldives currently adapting Singapore’s system. 

Last year, 1,661 scam-related cases were reported, involving MVR 20 million. This year, 1,302 cases have already been reported. The police confirmed that all relevant authorities are collaborating to find effective methods to prevent scam cases and that they are receiving support in amending laws and regulations to better deter scam-related crimes.