Police Urges Caution While Making Foreign Monetary Transactions
Photo: Envato
The Maldives Police Service has urged the public to exercise caution when exchanging US Dollars for Maldivian Rufiyaa.
According to the government, the Cyber Crime Department advised individuals to ensure that currency exchange providers hold a valid permit from the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). The list of licensed providers is available on the MMA’s website.
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Police stressed the importance of vigilance to avoid falling victim to scammers. They also reported a rise in theft attempts through hacked Viber accounts— a messaging platform widely used in the Maldives. The public is advised to verify the identity of anyone requesting money transfers and to avoid sharing One Time Passwords (OTPs) issued by banks.
Officers further warned against complying with unexpected money transfer requests.
The Cyber Crime Department also highlighted the growing threat of theft through hacked social media accounts and fraudulent phone calls. The department recently established a dedicated call centre to handle scam-related reports. The centre coordinates with financial institutions to take immediate action upon receiving a report and follows up on information through the anti-scam unit.
The Police Service stated that people can report scams both domestically and internationally by calling the national emergency number 911, the anti-scam hotline 125 (extension 2020), or by emailing reportscam@police.gov.mv.
Authorities urged the public to report such incidents as early as possible to help prevent future scams.
