Police have arrested Abdulla Milhan, a resident of Funoas, Meedhoo in Addu, for allegedly defrauding people through fake listings on Facebook Marketplace.
Authorities say Milhan posted advertisements for goods he did not intend to sell, collected payments from buyers, and failed to deliver the items. The operation was carried out by the Anti-Scam Center in coordination with Addu Police, following multiple complaints and a court order.
Investigators discovered that Milhan repeatedly collected money through fraudulent postings, transferring the funds into various bank accounts. Some account holders were reportedly aware of the scam and assisted in exchange for financial gain.
Police confirmed that in at least three known cases, Milhan illegally obtained a total of MVR 16,000. After his arrest, he appeared in court and was remanded in custody for 15 days.
Police have warned that scams on platforms like Facebook Marketplace are becoming more common. They advise the public to avoid transferring money until goods are physically received and to verify the authenticity of sellers before completing any transactions.
The authorities urge buyers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately to prevent further cases of online fraud.
