The Fiji Police Force is once again urging the public to protect their personal information, PINs, and passwords, particularly from individuals requesting such details over phone calls or messages. This warning follows the recent charges against two men and two women by the Fiji Police MPaisa Task Force for allegedly obtaining financial advantage through deception. The suspects are scheduled to appear at the Labasa Magistrates Court today.
In the first incident, two men aged 45 and 27 were accused of orchestrating a scam on August 18, 2023, that resulted in a loss of $790 for the victim. The pair reportedly hacked the Viber account of a friend of the victim and sent a message requesting funds for urgent needs. Unsuspectingly, the victim complied, only to later find out that the friend’s account had been compromised. After receiving the money, the 27-year-old withdrawn $490 and gave $310 to the first suspect.
The second case involved a 29-year-old woman who allegedly fraudulently acquired $548 from her victim on March 1, 2023. The victim was unaware of the transfer until she noticed the withdrawal and subsequently reported the incident at the Nakasi Police Station.
Additionally, a 43-year-old woman is alleged to have taken $40 from another victim on December 23, 2023. The victim mistakenly provided her personal information and One Time Pin (OTP) for an investment opportunity presented by the accused, leading to the unauthorized withdrawal.
The police continue to advise the community to remain vigilant and safeguard their financial information to prevent similar incidents.