Police warn public over fraudulent medical aid posts on social media

Police have issued a warning to the public to be cautious of social media posts soliciting financial help for medical treatment, as concerns rise over fraudulent activity.

Anti-Scam Centre said that while many genuine requests for assistance exist, an increasing number of scams are exploiting public generosity.

Posts often include images of alleged patients and provide bank account numbers to which donations can be sent.

In a statement, police urged people to verify the authenticity of such appeals before donating:

- Verifying that the bank account belongs to the patient or a legitimate family member

- Calling the contact number provided in the appeal

- Cross-checking the medical documents presented with verified hospital or doctor records

- Ensuring the post originates from a credible source

The warning follows a recent case in which a Facebook page called "Eheetheriyaa" used the photo of a woman, Aminath Rasheedha, in a fundraising post.

Rasheedha’s family had previously sought public assistance a few years ago, but say she is now recovering and they are unaware of the individual named Maisha in the new post or the account number linked to it.

Police said scammers misuse images and to solicit funds, often without the knowledge or consent of the individuals featured.

Several similar scams have been reported in recent years, with fraudsters using Facebook groups and pages to collect money under false pretenses.