Maldives Police Service (MPS) has stated preparations are ongoing to install signal jammers to stop scam calls from Maafushi Prison. MPS noted most scam calls are rooted in Maafushi Prison with cases of fraud and deception to extort money has increased significantly over the years.
Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, the Head of Financial Crime Unit Inspector of Police Yoosuf Looth said the majority of the numbers used to extort money are not registered in anyone's name, or such numbers are registered in the name of a foreigner who left the country many years ago. He added, therefore, it is difficult to identify who made the calls.
MPS has previously said the Maafushi Prison is the most frequently used area by fraudsters. Looth noted the importance of ensuring such calls cannot be made from the area since it is a local tourism hub as well. He said the police have taken the initiative to install jammers in the largest prison in the country and are working on a solution at the policy level.
Furthermore, in efforts to stop scam calls, MPS has now begun blocking numbers that are not registered to a name within 24 hours. As per statistics, 220 cases of fraud and depiction have been reported while over USD 863,744 have been extorted from different people. MPS urged the public to be vigilant of social media scams and to immediately report such crimes to the police.