The Fiji Police MPaisa Task Force has charged two men and one woman in separate cases for allegedly obtaining financial advantage by deception through the mobile money transfer app.
In the first case, a 30-year-old woman from Nawaka has been charged for allegedly obtaining $470 from a member of the public. On August 15, 2023, the victim received a Viber call from an unknown number claiming she had won money and needed to send $500 to secure her winnings. The victim sent the available $470 in her mobile money transfer account to the number provided by the accused. When the victim attempted to contact the accused, there was no response. The matter was reported, and the accused has been charged with one count of Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception. She is scheduled to appear in the Nadi Magistrates Court today.
In another case, two men aged 20 and 24 from Narere are alleged to have obtained $300 from a member of the public on May 19, 2024. The two had advertised car accessories for sale on Facebook, and the victim sent the money. When the victim could not reach the accused after the payment, a report was lodged. Both men have been charged with Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception and will be produced at the Nasinu Magistrates Court today.
Additionally, the same 20-year-old accused is facing a separate charge for allegedly obtaining $250 from another member of the public using the same method. He had posted an advertisement for car accessories on Facebook but failed to deliver the goods after receiving the payment from the victim.