Scammers are exploiting romantic relationships to defraud elderly women, primarily targeting those who are retired. Reshmi Dass, the Acting Director of Economic Crime, disclosed during the National Scam Awareness Week event at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva that nearly ten cases are currently in court. She highlighted a shocking instance where a woman was conned out of approximately $500,000 through a fraudulent romance scheme.
According to Ms. Dass, the scammers manipulate women aged between 60 and 70, persuading them to send nude photographs, which are later used to threaten exposure on social media if money is not provided. “We have been receiving complaints, and the victims are retired women who shared their intimate pictures with their online contacts,” Ms. Dass stated.
To extract money from these women, scammers inform them that failure to comply with their demands will result in public humiliation. She noted that multiple similar romance scam cases are currently making their way through the courts, involving a young man who posed as someone living overseas and used WhatsApp to reach out to older women.
The victims often engage in sweet conversations, leading them to trust the perpetrator. One such victim reportedly lost $500,000 before realizing that the scammer was local and targeting numerous other women as well. Upon discovering the truth, she reported the crime.
Ms. Dass strongly advised women to avoid sharing personal information and photographs with unfamiliar individuals on social media. “Please exercise caution when divulging personal information to anyone online. If you receive a message from someone you do not know, refrain from providing personal details or sharing photos that could lead to such fraudulent schemes,” she warned.
Currently, there are about eight or nine pending cases against this individual in court.