Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica revealed in Parliament that the Consumer Council of Fiji has received more than 1,700 complaints regarding scams since 2019, amounting to losses exceeding $3 million.
Kamikamica stated that both the Consumer Council and the Fiji Police Force have reported substantial financial losses due to eBay-related scams, with figures around $3 million. He expressed concern that the actual number of victims might be considerably higher and is awaiting a detailed report from the Reserve Bank of Fiji through the Financial Intelligence Unit to better understand the full impact of these scams across the nation.
The Deputy Prime Minister outlined various types of fraud, emphasizing issues such as online scams that utilize phishing emails and texts, as well as impersonation of high-profile business figures to facilitate unauthorized fund transfers through mobile wallets. He noted a troubling increase in investment scams, where con artists sell both legitimate and fictitious products or ideas to vulnerable investors eager for quick wealth.
Kamikamica pointed out that the eBay shop online recruitment scam, one of the most significant scams in Fiji’s history, has severely affected many individuals and brought national focus to this urgent concern. He described how scammers exploit people’s trust and aspirations, often leaving them financially devastated and disillusioned.
In response to this growing issue, Kamikamica announced that the Government has initiated the Anti-Scam Taskforce. This collaborative effort aims to combat fraud through improved surveillance, the strengthening of institutional frameworks, and targeted awareness campaigns involving multiple stakeholders.
He emphasized the need for a dedicated scam agency to address the evolving nature of these fraudulent activities effectively, highlighting that a comprehensive strategy is vital to combat the increasing number of scams in Fiji.