Police have warned the public to remain vigilant against foreign currency exchange scams following an increase in reported cases.

A total of 32 scam cases were reported between October 25 and 31, with 17 involving foreign currency exchanges, making it the most common type of scam during the week.

According to police, a total of MVR 737,695 was lost to scams during the period, while MVR 144,558 was recovered.

Police advised the public to be cautious of exchange offers with unusually favorable rates, warning that they could be fraudulent. They also urged people to verify that sellers have received the money before making deposits and to avoid transferring money to individuals whose identities cannot be verified.

E-commerce scams were the second most reported category, with six cases recorded. The remaining reports included four investment-related scams, one impersonation scam and four other cases.

Police said scammers used online platforms and communication channels to target victims, including eBay, TikTok and Facebook Marketplace, as well as phishing links and phone calls.