Five men have been charged by the Fiji Police’s MPaisa TaskForce in connection with separate incidents of allegedly obtaining money through deception in Labasa, Ba, and Nadi.
The first suspect, a 32-year-old from Bulileka in Labasa, is accused of obtaining $230 from a victim on March 15, 2024, after hacking a friend’s Viber account and sending a message requesting funds for urgent needs. Once the scam was uncovered, the victim reported the incident.
In another case, a 26-year-old man from Siberia in Labasa is charged with receiving $80 from a victim for goods advertised on Facebook. The accused allegedly withdrew the funds without delivering the promised items.
Both men are set to appear in Labasa Magistrates Court today. Additionally, two other suspects will face similar charges in Ba Magistrates Court. A 27-year-old from Rarawai, Ba, is alleged to have scammed a victim out of $2,847 in December 2023. The victim reportedly clicked on a Facebook investment link and transferred money to bank accounts provided by the accused, believing it to be a legitimate investment opportunity.
In a separate incident in Ba, a 37-year-old from Tauvegavega is accused of fraudulently obtaining $170 from a victim for a taxi permit on February 7, 2023. The victim, believing they were approved for the permit, sent the money after receiving a call but later reported the matter when no further communication was received.
In the final case, a 49-year-old man from Navo in Nadi is alleged to have taken $286 from a victim on March 23, 2021. The accused and an accomplice claimed they could secure employment for the victim, but after receiving the money, they ceased all communication, prompting the victim to report the incident to Labasa Police.
All five individuals face charges of Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception.