Fiji Police MPaisa Task Force has charged three individuals in separate cases of allegedly obtaining financial advantage by deception through a mobile money transfer app.
In the first case, a 30-year-old woman from Nawaka was charged after she allegedly acquired $470 from a member of the public. It is claimed that on August 15, 2023, the victim received a Viber call from an unknown number, informing her that she had won a sum of money but needed to send $500 to secure her winnings. The victim transferred $470 from her mobile money account to the number given by the accused. When the victim attempted to contact the alleged scammer, she received no response. The incident was reported, and the accused was charged with one count of obtaining financial advantage by deception. She is set to appear in the Nadi Magistrates Court today.
In another case, two men aged 20 and 24 from Narere are accused of obtaining $300 from a member of the public on May 19, 2024. The two allegedly advertised car accessories on Facebook. After the victim sent the money, he was unable to contact the accused, leading him to report the incident. Both men were charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception and appeared in the Nasinu Magistrates Court today.
The same 20-year-old accused faces an additional charge in another case where he allegedly acquired $250 from a member of the public through similar means. He had posted an advertisement for car accessories on Facebook and failed to deliver the goods after receiving the money transfer from the victim.