Five individuals have been charged by the Fiji Police MPaisa TaskForce for various alleged cases of obtaining money through deception in Labasa, Ba, and Nadi.
The first accused, a 32-year-old man from Bulileka in Labasa, is suspected of receiving $230 from a victim on March 15, 2024. He reportedly hacked a close friend’s Viber account and sent a message posing as that friend, claiming he needed urgent financial help. Once the alleged scam was uncovered, the victim filed a report.
In a separate incident, a 26-year-old man from Siberia in Labasa also on March 15, 2024, is accused of collecting $80 under the pretense of selling goods advertised on Facebook. He took the money but failed to deliver the items.
Both of these men are set to appear in Labasa Magistrates Court today.
Additionally, two other men will face similar charges at the Ba Magistrates Court. A 27-year-old from Rarawai, Ba is alleged to have scammed a victim out of $2,847 through an online investment scheme in December 2023. The victim clicked on a Facebook investment link that required him to deposit funds into bank accounts controlled by the accused. After making two payments without receiving any communication, the victim reported the case to the police.
The second case in Ba involves a 37-year-old man from Tauvegavega, accused of fraudulently obtaining $170 on February 7, 2023, for a taxi permit. The victim was contacted about the approval of his application and wired the money, but when no further updates were received, he reported the situation to law enforcement.
In the fifth case, a 49-year-old man living in Navo, Nadi, is charged with swindling $286 from a victim on March 23, 2021. The accused and a companion promised the victim job security in exchange for the money but ceased all communication after being paid, leading to the report at the Labasa Police Station.
All five men are facing one count of Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception.