Maldives Police warn of increasing scam links

Online scams, particularly those involving phishing links, have become increasingly common in the Maldives. These scams often involve emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate sources but are designed to steal personal information or money. Victims are typically lured into clicking on malicious links, which can lead to unauthorized access to their social media accounts or direct financial extortion. In the past, these messages have pretended to be from various Government bodies, including the bank, usually targetting older generations who are prone to clicking links requesting to ‘update information’ or even applying for different loans or housing schemes. 

In the latest event, it appears that a group of hackers have started sending out similar messages as before, this time acting as the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). The latest phishing links being sent out state that any Maldivian citizen can apply for the Vinares housing flats, attaching a link for the ‘application’. As the Maldives continues to face a major housing crisis and increased rent prices, this targeted phishing link is one that citizens could easily choose to believe. However, in a post on X, the Maldives Police Services have highlighted that there have been multiple instances of fraudulent links being circulated in the past, claiming to offer flats. These scams often lead to hacking incidents on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where victims' friend lists are exploited to extort money. With this, the Maldives Police Services have urged the public to exercise caution and avoid clicking on suspicious links. This warning comes in the wake of numerous reports of individuals falling victim to such scams, resulting in significant financial losses.

Although it may be hard to identify scams as more and more companies choose easier methods of communicating, one thing to always remember is that companies such as banks or organisations such as HDC would not send text messages for important announcements such as housing applications. In addition to being wary of this, there are several other measures that can be taken in order to protect yourself from such scams such as: 

1. Verify authenticity: Always check the source of any message or email claiming to offer opportunities or requesting personal information. Contact the organization directly using official contact details.

2. Avoid clicking on suspicious links: If you receive a link from an unknown source or a message that seems unusual, do not click on it. Instead, report it to the relevant authorities.

3. Secure your social media accounts: Use strong, unique passwords for your social media accounts and enable two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.

4. Educate yourself and others: Stay informed about common scams and share this knowledge with friends and family to help protect them as well.