The Fiji Police Mpaisa Task Force has charged five individuals in connection with cases involving financial deception.
In the first incident, a 32-year-old woman from Tavakubu in Lautoka allegedly obtained $200 from a member of the public on July 28, 2023. It is claimed that she received this money from another accused, who has already faced charges and appeared in court, facilitating the transfer without the victim’s awareness. The woman reportedly used the $200 for her MasterCard.
In another case, a 20-year-old from Waiyavi in Lautoka is accused of dishonestly obtaining $327 from a member of the public on March 4, 2023. The investigation revealed that the victim transferred this amount to the accused for six bags of chicken advertised on Facebook, but the accused allegedly withdrew the money and did not deliver the goods.
This 20-year-old is also implicated in a similar scheme with a 50-year-old man from Lautoka, where together they allegedly fraudulently acquired $820 from a victim for six bags of chicken in March 2023, again failing to provide the goods after withdrawing the funds.
In a separate case, a 24-year-old man is accused of collecting $200 for an item posted on Facebook. After receiving the payment, he cut off all communication with the victim.
The final allegation involves a 33-year-old man who supposedly acquired $190 in April 2024 as a deposit for timber advertised online via Facebook.
All five individuals are set to appear in Lautoka Magistrates Court today.
The Fiji Police Force has advised online users to verify sales and, whenever possible, to personally inspect items before making any financial commitments. If items are located in a different area, individuals are encouraged to request friends or relatives to check them on their behalf.
Those representing themselves as sales agents for recognized companies can be verified through a quick phone call to the respective outlets, as some are misleading customers by offering bulk goods at discounted prices. It is essential to conduct thorough checks before transferring any money to avoid falling victim to scams online.