Two Jailed for Dollar Scam via WhatsApp in Maldives

The Criminal Court of the Maldives has sentenced two individuals to more than one year in prison for defrauding a woman in a fake US dollar exchange scheme conducted through WhatsApp. The court also ordered them to pay compensation for the loss. The convicted are Abdulla Haisham from Fuvahmulah, Miskiymagu, Kudhimaage, and Ahmed Zaneef from Hulu dhoo, Saveena. The scam took place on October 7, 2022, via a WhatsApp channel named 'Dollar Exchange'. The victim was persuaded to deposit MVR 111,475 (at a rate of 17.15 rufiyaa per dollar) into an account belonging to a woman, with the promise of receiving $6,500. However, the dollars were never delivered. Court documents reveal that out of the deposited amount, MVR 50,000 was transferred to Haisham's account. Of that, MVR 25,000 was transferred to another person's account, and the remaining MVR 25,000 was withdrawn via an ATM. Additionally, MVR 25,000 was withdrawn from another ATM in Hulhumale by Zaneef, as confirmed by CCTV footage analysis. Although both accused pleaded not guilty, the court established that the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt through police investigation reports, bank statements, and witness testimony.