Reports indicate that numerous Maldivian medical students aiming to pursue medicine abroad have been swindled out of tens of thousands of US dollars in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the Philippines by Zeed International, a purported group of con artists masquerading as an international higher education consultancy firm.

The case gained public awareness earlier this week when victims and their relatives expressed concerns on social media. The Maldives Police Service indicated that the incident was reported the day before and is currently being investigated, but additional details were not revealed.

H & Associates, a law firm offering pro bono legal support to the victims, is helping several individuals impacted by the agency that has functioned under the names ‘Zeed International’, ‘Zeed Consultancy’, and ‘Zeedle’. The company claims that Zeed has been demanding Maldivian medical students three to four times the real tuition costs for courses at schools in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.

Reportedly, misinformation from the agency has caused numerous students to encounter visa problems, resulting in some being sent back to the Maldives. In some instances, the agency purportedly did not fully compensate universities and hospitals.

The agency reportedly utilized the Cricket Board office in Malé to meet students face-to-face and promoted its services with posters along key roads in the capital. Zeed's connection to the Maldives Cricket Organisation seems confined to the purported utilization of its office; the Board features Pasindu Liyanaarachichi as the National Squad Head Coach, Imad Ismail as the Development Manager, and Liam McCumiskey as the Regional Development Manager.

The Board of Directors for Zeed International was established on 13 September 2023 and comprises Abdulla Imad Ismail, Aminath Shaheeda, and Mohamed Ra’e Imad.