The Anti-Scam Centre of the Maldives Police Service participated in and hosted the conclusion of Operation FRONTIER+ III, a joint international anti-scam operation conducted under the FRONTIER+ Alliance from 10 March 2026 to 7 May 2026, together with law enforcement agencies from Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Macau SAR, Indonesia, Brunei, and Canada.

The operation targeted transnational scam syndicates involved in various scam typologies, including e-commerce scams, investment scams, impersonation scams, phishing scams, business email compromise scams, and currency exchange-related scams.

During the nearly two-month operation, more than 3,200 officers were deployed across the ten participating jurisdictions. The operation resulted in the arrest of 3,018 individuals aged between 13 and 85 years, while investigations were conducted against 7,553 individuals linked to more than 138,000 scam cases involving reported losses amounting to approximately USD 752 million.

As part of the operation, close to 102,000 scam-linked bank accounts were frozen, resulting in the seizure and interception of more than USD 161 million in illicit funds.

Maldives National Outcomes

During the operational period, 41 officers from the Anti-Scam Centre of the Maldives Police Service investigated 349 scam cases reported in the Maldives. Reported financial losses exceeded MVR 4 million, amounting to MVR 4,025,424.

Through rapid intervention and coordinated operational action, 664 bank accounts linked to scam activities were frozen, while approximately MVR 1.16 million was successfully recovered.

The operation also focused on identifying and disrupting money mule activities linked to transnational scam syndicates. A total of 574 individuals were interviewed in connection with investigations, including 490 males and 84 females. Additionally, 16 individuals, all male and aged between 19 and 48 years, were arrested during the operation.

Analysis conducted during the operation identified four major scam trends affecting victims in the Maldives:

- E-commerce scams involving fake online shops and fraudulent marketplace listings;

- Currency exchange and triangular scams involving fake exchange agents and cryptocurrency-related transactions;

- Impersonation and phishing scams, including business email compromise and phone-based vishing scams; and

- Investment scams promising unrealistic or guaranteed financial returns.

During the operation, several cases involving cross-border movement of fraudulent funds were identified. In one case involving a FRONTIER+ member jurisdiction, the Maldives Police Service received timely operational support from its international counterparts in relation to a business email compromise and investment scam investigation. The case highlighted the practical importance of real-time intelligence sharing and international cooperation in disrupting transnational scam networks.

FRONTIER+ Alliance

The FRONTIER+ Alliance was established in October 2024 with six founding members: Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, the Maldives, Thailand, and South Korea. The Alliance was formed on the principle that no single jurisdiction can effectively combat transnational scam syndicates in isolation, and that real-time intelligence sharing and coordinated operational action are essential in safeguarding the public against scams.

The Alliance has since expanded to 14 member jurisdictions comprising Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, South Africa, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Maldives, Dubai (UAE), Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and the United States.

The operational outcomes of Operation FRONTIER+ III were presented during a joint international press conference hosted by the Maldives Police Service at Crossroads Maldives on 20 May 2026, attended by representatives of participating FRONTIER+ member jurisdictions.

The Maldives Police Service reaffirms its commitment to strengthening international cooperation through the FRONTIER+ Alliance and combating transnational scams and cyber-enabled crimes.

The Maldives Police Service also expresses its appreciation to FRONTIER+ member agencies for their continued cooperation and for the opportunity to host the operational conclusion and joint press conference of Operation FRONTIER+ III in the Maldives.

Members of the public are advised to remain vigilant when conducting financial transactions, particularly those involving online marketplaces, investment opportunities, cryptocurrency-related transactions, and requests from unfamiliar parties. The public is also reminded to report suspected scam incidents to the Maldives Police Service immediately, as early reporting significantly improves the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions and recovering funds.