Five men have been charged by the Fiji Police MPaisa TaskForce in connection with separate cases 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 deceiving a victim on March 15, 2024, by obtaining $230 after hacking a friend’s Viber account and sending a message that requested money for urgent needs. Once the scam was uncovered, the victim filed a report with the police.
In another instance, a 26-year-old man from Siberia, Labasa, allegedly obtained $80 from a victim on the same date after the victim sent money for goods that were advertised for sale on Facebook. The suspect reportedly withdrew the money but did not deliver the items.
Both of these individuals are set to appear before the Labasa Magistrates Court today.
Additionally, two other men are expected to appear in Ba Magistrates Court on similar charges. A 27-year-old from Rarawai, Ba, is accused of obtaining $2,847 through an online scam in December 2023. The victim is said to have clicked on an investment link on Facebook and transferred the money to the bank accounts provided by the accused, believing it was a legitimate investment opportunity. When the victim received no response, he reported the incident to the police.
In the second case from Ba, a 37-year-old man from Tauvegavega is alleged to have dishonestly taken $170 from the victim on February 7, 2023, as payment for a taxi permit. The victim had received a call regarding the approval of his application and sent the money, but after not hearing back, he reported the issue to the authorities.
Lastly, a 49-year-old resident of Navo in Nadi is alleged to have obtained $286 from a victim on March 23, 2021, by claiming that he could help secure employment in exchange for the money. After receiving the funds, he severed all communication, prompting the victim to alert the Labasa Police Station.
All five men face charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception.