Two individuals have been charged with Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception by the Fiji Police MPaisa Task Force, connected to fraudulent activities on a mobile money transfer app.
The first incident involved a 42-year-old woman from Natabua, in Lautoka, who allegedly scammed $200 from a public member. She reportedly sent a bogus text message to the victim, falsely claiming that she had mistakenly sent him $200. Afterward, she asked for the money to be transferred back to her number. The victim complied, only to realize later that no such transaction had initially taken place. The accused later withdrew the money from a supermarket outlet in Lautoka and is expected to appear in the Lautoka Magistrates Court.
Similarly, a 32-year-old man from Lautoka has been charged with the same crime. According to the Police, he fraudulently obtained $730 from a person on the 13th of February, 2024. The perpetrator allegedly posed as a supermarket employee selling goods. He requested the victim to select items to purchase and asked for the money to be sent. However, he never delivered the goods as promised. He too will be facing his charges at the Lautoka Magistrates Court.