The Maldives Police Service’s Anti-Scam Centre has issued a public advisory urging greater vigilance over SIM card use, amid a surge in scam incidents involving phone numbers registered under individuals’ names.
According to the Centre, fraudsters have been increasingly using SIM cards to send deceptive messages in the name of government agencies, targeting unsuspecting individuals across the country. The public has been reminded that any SIM card registered under a person’s name is their legal responsibility.
The Centre strongly advised individuals to verify all active SIM cards registered under their names and disconnect those not in their possession to prevent potential misuse.
Recent statistics shared by the Anti-Scam Centre revealed that during the Eid holiday alone, scammers extracted MVR 270,270 through various fraudulent schemes. Police were able to recover MVR 75,776 of the stolen amount through active investigations.
The advisory also reiterated best practices for scam prevention: avoid sharing OTPs or personal information, verify payment requests before transferring money, refrain from clicking suspicious links, and conduct financial transactions only through authorized channels.