The Anti Scam Center has reported 36 scam cases in Maldives over the past week, with most involving online business transactions.

According to statistics released for the period between 7 and 13 June, the reported cases resulted in losses amounting to MVR 118,370.05. However, authorities said swift intervention and cooperation helped recover MVR 164,240.60.

E-commerce scams accounted for the majority of cases, with 26 reported incidents. This was followed by other online fraud schemes (5 cases), impersonation scams (4 cases), and currency exchange scams (1 case).

The Anti-Scam Center said most scams originated through online messaging platforms, phone calls, unknown links, and marketplaces such as iBay and Facebook Marketplace.

Authorities have urged the public to verify the authenticity of online sellers and avoid making advance payments to unknown individuals before receiving goods.

They also advised consumers to exercise caution when engaging in online transactions and to report suspicious activity promptly.