Five men have been charged by the Fiji Police MPaisa TaskForce for various cases involving alleged deception to obtain money in the regions of Labasa, Ba, and Nadi.
The first suspect, a 32-year-old man from Bulileka, Labasa, is accused of having obtained $230 from a victim on March 15, 2024, by sending a Viber message impersonating a close friend. The individual reportedly hacked the friend’s Viber account, requesting money for urgent needs. Upon realizing it was a scam, the victim reported the incident to the authorities.
In another case, a 26-year-old man from Siberia, Labasa, allegedly secured $80 from a victim who sent the money for items advertised on Facebook by the suspect. The accused withdrew the funds but did not deliver the promised goods. Both men are set to appear in the Labasa Magistrates Court today.
Additionally, two other men will appear at the Ba Magistrates Court today on similar charges. A 27-year-old man from Rarawai, Ba, is accused of obtaining $2,847 from a victim through an online scam in December 2023. The victim reportedly clicked on a Facebook investment link, which led him to deposit the specified amount into the bank accounts provided by the accused. After failing to receive any returns, the victim reported the matter to the Police.
In the other Ba case, a 37-year-old man from Tauvegavega is alleged to have dishonestly acquired $170 from a victim for a taxi permit on February 7, 2023. The victim received a call regarding the approval of his taxi permit application, leading him to send the funds. When no further communication was received regarding his permit, he contacted the Police.
Lastly, a 49-year-old man residing in Navo, Nadi, is accused of obtaining $286 from a victim on March 23, 2021. The suspect and an accomplice allegedly promised the victim a job and requested the money to secure it. After receiving the payment, the accused allegedly discontinued all communication, prompting the victim to report the incident to the Labasa Police Station.
All five men face one count of Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception.