Five men have been charged by the Fiji Police MPaisa TaskForce for different cases involving allegations of obtaining money through deception in Labasa, Ba, and Nadi.
The first suspect, a 32-year-old man from Bulileka in Labasa, reportedly obtained $230 from a victim on March 15, 2024, by sending a Viber message pretending to be a close friend. The individual had hacked the friend’s Viber account and requested the money for urgent needs. The scam was uncovered, leading the victim to file a police report.
In another instance, a 26-year-old man from Siberia in Labasa allegedly defrauded a victim of $80 on the same day, claiming to sell goods on Facebook. After receiving the money, the accused failed to deliver the items.
Both men are set to appear at the Labasa Magistrates Court today.
Additionally, two other men will face charges at the Ba Magistrates Court today for similar offenses. A 27-year-old man from Rarawai, Ba, is accused of scamming a victim out of $2,847 in December 2023 through an online investment scheme. The victim had clicked on a link on Facebook and was instructed to make a deposit into the accused’s bank account, mistakenly believing it was a legitimate investment opportunity. When no returns were received, the victim reported the incident to the police.
In another case in Ba, a 37-year-old man from Tauvegavega allegedly acquired $170 from a victim for a taxi permit on February 7, 2023. The victim received a call about the approval of his taxi permit application and subsequently sent the money. However, when there was no follow-up regarding the permit, he contacted the police.
Finally, a 49-year-old man from Navo in Nadi is accused of obtaining $286 from a victim on March 23, 2021. He and an accomplice allegedly promised the victim job security in exchange for the payment. Once they received the money, the accused severed all communication, prompting the victim to report the incident to the Labasa Police Station.
All five men face a charge of Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception.