The Fiji Police MPaisa Task Force has charged two men and one woman for separate cases of allegedly obtaining financial advantage by deception through a mobile money transfer app.
In the first case, a 30-year-old woman from Nawaka has been charged after she allegedly deceived a member of the public to obtain $470. On August 15, 2023, the victim received a Viber call from an unknown number claiming that they had won some money. To secure the winnings, the victim was asked to send $500. The victim sent $470 available in her mobile money transfer account to the provided number but could not contact the accused afterward. The matter was reported, and the accused was charged with one count of Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception. She is set to appear at the Nadi Magistrates Court today.
In another case, two men aged 20 and 24 from Narere are also accused of obtaining $300 from a member of the public on May 19, 2024. The pair had allegedly advertised car accessories for sale on Facebook. After the victim sent the money and could not contact the accused, a report was filed. The two have been charged with Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception and will appear at the Nasinu Magistrates Court today.
The 20-year-old man involved in the second case faces an additional charge for allegedly obtaining $250 from another member of the public using the same method. He had advertised car accessories on Facebook and failed to deliver the goods after receiving the payment.