Maldives Police Service (MPS) has stated reports of scams being conducted through social media platforms are increasing.
At a press conference, Chief Superintendent of Police Hassan Shifau said there has been an increase in blackmail and muggings using social media platforms. The chief superintendent said the criminals mostly target the elderly but also target travellers to Male' City, boat crewmen, and fishermen. He also said most of the criminals have a record of stealing, mugging, and drug-related crimes, adding that some of the criminals are minors.
Furthermore, Chief Superintendent Shifau said MPS is investigating six such cases and has arrested 12 suspects, most of which are men over 21 years old. MPS stated that some of the cases involve the suspects threatening their victims with sharp objects, and stripping and recording them before stealing their money.
The police service stated that the suspects conduct these scams by first chatting with their victims and developing a friendship through Viber, Snapchat, and Telegram, and then mugging them as a group after meeting them in person. It also stated that reporting of such crimes is low since the suspects blackmail their victims using compromising photos and videos.
MPS urged the public to be vigilant of social media scams and to immediately report such crimes to the police.