Foakaidhoo Island Office Scammed

By Will Jordan in Male'

A man calling himself "Shiyam" and claiming to be a cashier for the United Nations has conned the Foakaidhoo Island Office into buying him phone cards and other goods with a value of Rf 10 100 (about USD 792) Assistant Secretary, Mohamed Abdul Rahman, claims.

Rahman, who works in the Island Office in Shaviyani atoll, has been told he will have to cover the losses because he bought the cards on behalf of the office.
He was delegated to do the job by Island Chief Ali Nizar, who is now refusing to accept responsibility for the scam, Rahman says.

"UN Cashier"
The man called the office while employees were dealing with the emergency of the tidal wave which hit many Maldivian Islands on Tuesday. He said he was a cashier with the UN and needed phone cards, food, drink and batteries.

Assistant Secretary Rahman was put in charge of the request as the Island Chief, Ali Nizar, was occupied dealing with the effects of the tidal wave. Rahman says he went to a local shop and bought 53 phone cards worth Rf 100 and 48 worth Rf 50 as well as other goods.

He then called "Shiyam" and read to him the numbers of all the phone cards.

Conned
Rahman arranged for "Shiyam" to collect the other goods from the island jetty, but when he failed to turn up, Island Office staff realised they had been conned. A spokesman from the UNDP has confirmed they do not have a cashier by the name of Shiyam working for them.

The island office has informed the police.