The Fiji Police Mpaisa Task Force has charged five additional individuals in connection with cases of deceitful financial gain.
One case involves a 32-year-old woman from Tavakubu, Lautoka, who is accused of illegally obtaining $200 from a member of the public on July 28, 2023. It’s alleged that she received this amount from another individual who has already been charged, without the victim’s awareness, and reportedly used the $200 for her MasterCard expenses.
Another charge involves a 20-year-old from Waiyavi, Lautoka, suspected of dishonestly obtaining $327 from a member of the public on March 4, 2023. Investigations indicated that the victim transferred the money for six bags of chicken advertised on Facebook, but the accused withdrew the funds and did not provide the promised goods.
The same 20-year-old is also implicated in another incident involving a 50-year-old man, wherein they allegedly deceived a member of the public out of $820 for six more bags of chicken also advertised on Facebook, failing to deliver the items after taking the funds.
Additionally, a 24-year-old man is accused of acquiring $200 from a member of the public for an item listed on Facebook, after which he ceased all communication with the victim.
Lastly, a 33-year-old man is alleged to have misappropriated $190 in April 2024 as a deposit for timber advertised online via Facebook.
All five accused individuals are set to appear in the Lautoka Magistrates Court today.
The Fiji Police Force has advised online users to carefully verify transactions and, when possible, personally inspect items before making any monetary commitments. If purchases are located in a different division, individuals are encouraged to ask a friend or relative to assist in verifying the item. Furthermore, potential buyers should verify the authenticity of sales agents claiming to represent known companies by contacting the outlets directly, as some scammers use this tactic to sell goods in bulk at discounted prices. It’s essential to conduct thorough checks before transferring any money to prevent falling victim to online scams.