Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed has revealed that the number of cybercrime cases reported to the authorities in the first half of this year has doubled compared to the same period last year. The Commissioner shared these statistics in a special message delivered to mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, highlighting the growing digital threats facing the nation.
With approximately 85 percent of the Maldivian population currently utilizing the internet and digital tools, the country has become a highly connected digital society. While this technological integration has brought significant convenience to daily life, government services, and businesses, the Commissioner noted that it has also rapidly accelerated the spread of online threats and created new opportunities for scammers to exploit the public.
According to police data, a staggering 68 percent of the cybercrimes reported during the first six months of the year were executed through social media platforms. Furthermore, criminals are increasingly leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate fake messages, audio, and video content designed to deceive and trap unsuspecting citizens.
The Commissioner emphasised that negligence and a lack of awareness remain the primary factors leading individuals to fall victim to these scams. He pointed out that clicking on unverified links, sharing highly confidential information such as One-Time Passwords (OTPs), and trusting unauthenticated individuals during online transactions are the most common mistakes made by the public.
To combat this rising threat, the police force is continuously acquiring state-of-the-art tools and expanding its technical capacity to strengthen cybercrime investigations. In addition to bolstering their operational capabilities, the authorities are actively conducting nationwide awareness programs aimed at educating the public on digital safety and proactive preventative measures.