A 34-year-old woman has been charged by the Fiji Police Cyber Task Force with two counts of obtaining financial advantage and one count of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The investigation revealed that between March 29 and March 31, 2023, the accused allegedly obtained $3,200 from a victim through an online bank transfer. The victim had interacted with a dubious link on Facebook, which led to his bank account being hacked, resulting in the funds being transferred to the accused’s bank account without his knowledge. After receiving the money, the accused reportedly withdrew the funds for her own use.
This case underscores the ongoing issue of online fraud that has been prevalent in Fiji, as seen in recent cases where individuals have fallen prey to various scams. For instance, another similar incident involved a woman in her late 50s who was charged for fraudulently obtaining $2,500 by persuading the victim that sending money would reward her with a gift. The victims in such cases often trust the fraudsters due to the deceptive nature of online communications.
The accused in the current case is scheduled for a hearing at the Suva Magistrate Court today, highlighting the authorities’ commitment to tackling cybercrime and protecting the public from online fraud. This legal action serves as a reminder for individuals to be vigilant and cautious when engaging in online transactions and interactions.
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