A mobile electronics store in Suva is currently being investigated by the Consumer Council of Fiji following reports of two incidents involving large purchases of Apple gift cards, during which the customers did not receive the full value of their orders.
These cases have raised concerns about the handling and fulfillment of these transactions, prompting an urgent inquiry from the Council.
In the first case, a customer made a purchase of Apple gift cards worth FJD$5000, intending to acquire cards valued at USD$1600 on June 21, 2024. However, they received only a single gift card worth USD$500. After making several requests for the remaining gift cards worth USD$1100 and receiving no response, the customer sought help from the Council.
In another incident, another buyer bought Apple gift cards for FJD$7000 on June 14, 2024, with a promise of quick delivery after payment. Despite numerous attempts to reach out to the seller, the buyer was unable to receive the gift cards and encountered issues with call diversions and unanswered inquiries.
“These incidents could be isolated or indicative of a more significant issue. What’s troubling is the substantial amounts involved in these transactions,” stated Seema Shandil, the Council’s chief executive. “Consumers must exercise caution when spending large sums on such items.”
She emphasized the importance of ensuring that consumers confirm vendors are authorized retailers, particularly when purchasing high-value gift cards or using mobile repair services.
“During the ongoing investigation, we were unable to ascertain whether the trader is an authorized dealer because they have not provided proof of being an authorized retailer of Apple products. This raises concerns about the legitimacy of these gift card sales and other services they offer. While we are diligently investigating these issues to safeguard consumer rights and prevent future occurrences, we also urge consumers to be vigilant during large transactions.”
Consumers are encouraged to report any suspicious activities or discrepancies related to scams or frauds to the Consumer Council of Fiji for immediate assistance, either by emailing complaints@consumersfiji.org or calling the National Toll-Free Helpline at 155.