Imagine this: You’re scrolling through your Facebook feed, enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon in your Msida apartment. Suddenly, you receive a message from ‘Maltese Police’ on Messenger. They’ve ‘detected unusual activity’ on your account and need you to verify your identity. What do you do?

Chances are, you’d be alarmed. But don’t panic just yet. This is exactly the scenario the real Maltese Police want you to avoid. They’ve issued a warning about a sophisticated scam targeting locals on Facebook Messenger.

The scammers, posing as ‘Maltese Police’, contact their victims via Messenger. They claim to have detected suspicious activity on the victim’s account and ask them to verify their identity by providing personal details or clicking on a link. Once they have this information, they use it to steal money or commit identity fraud.

In some cases, the scammers even go as far as asking for a ‘fine’ to be paid for supposed illegal activities. One victim, a resident of Birkirkara, reported losing €1,000 after being tricked into believing he had violated copyright laws.

The Maltese Police have urged the public to be vigilant and look out for the following signs:

• Messages from ‘Maltese Police’ with poor grammar or spelling.
• Requests for personal information, such as your ID card number or bank details.
• Urgent demands for money, often under the guise of a ‘fine’.
• Links to external websites or apps that ask for your login details.

Remember, the Maltese Police will never ask for personal information or money via social media.

If you receive a suspicious message, do not respond or click on any links. Instead, report the message to the Maltese Police’s Cyber Crime Unit by calling 119 or sending an email to cybercrime@gov.mt.

You can also report the scam to Facebook by clicking on the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner of the message and selecting ‘Report’.

Let’s not let these scammers ruin our enjoyment of Malta’s vibrant online community. Stay alert, stay safe, and let’s keep our island’s digital streets as clean as our beautiful beaches.