Bank of Maldives (BML) is offering refunds to customers who have lost money due to scams conducted through phone calls, emails, and international websites. The increase in such fraudulent activities has prompted BML to increase public awareness on how to prevent falling prey to scams.
BML’s Public Relations Officer, Mohamed Saeed, stated that fraudsters can steal money from customers’ bank accounts by using One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and other personal information, making it difficult for investigative authorities to recover the funds. He added that BML will only refund customers who have lost money from international websites charging their credit or debit card without their knowledge, but not for losses through Internet Banking or the use of customer information.
Saeed also highlighted the shift in scamming methods, citing an increase in reports of scams through online business transactions. BML received over 250 reports involving e-commerce web pages last year, where customers made transactions but did not receive the product or their money back as the web pages were removed after the transaction. He emphasized the importance of not disclosing personal information or Internet Banking details.
