Police have issued a warning to the public after uncovering a scam that falsely portrayed a fundraising appeal for a cancer patient, using a stolen photograph to solicit donations.

According to the Maldives Police Service’s Anti-Scam Centre, fraudsters circulated a post on a Facebook page named Dheenuge Magu, claiming that a young girl, identified as Aishath Maajidha, had been diagnosed with cancer shortly after completing her O’level examinations.

The post stated that she required treatment in India for a period of six to eight months and included a personal bank account number for public donations.

Investigations revealed that the image used in the appeal did not belong to the individual named in the post. Police confirmed that the photograph was of Mushfika Sultana, a foreign national, and had been misappropriated as part of the scam.

Authorities stressed that this incident highlights how scammers continue to exploit emotional narratives to deceive well-meaning members of the public.

The Anti-Scam Centre urged individuals to verify the authenticity of online fundraising appeals before making donations, particularly those that rely heavily on emotional imagery.

Police recommended conducting a reverse image search through platforms such as Google Images, noting that photos appearing under different names or in unrelated appeals are a strong indication of fraudulent activity.

Members of the public were also advised to exercise caution when asked to transfer money into personal bank accounts.

Police warned that if callers become aggressive or request sensitive information, including one-time passwords (OTPs), the call should be ended immediately without further engagement.

The Anti-Scam Centre reported that scam-related losses amounted to MVR 1.9 million in the previous month alone, underscoring the growing financial impact of such crimes.