The Fiji Police MPaisa Task Force has charged three individuals in separate cases for allegedly “dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception” through the mobile money transfer app.
In the first case, a 30-year-old woman from Nawaka has been charged for allegedly obtaining $470 from a member of the public. On August 15, 2023, the victim received a Viber call from an unknown number claiming she had won a prize. To secure her winnings, she was instructed to send $500. The victim transferred the $470 available in her mobile money account to the number provided by the accused. When she attempted to contact the accused later, there was no response. The incident was reported, and the accused has been charged with “Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception.” She is set to appear in Nadi Magistrates Court today.
In another separate case, two men aged 20 and 24 from Narere are alleged to have obtained $300 from a member of the public on May 19, 2024. They had advertised car accessories for sale on Facebook. The victim sent the money but was unable to contact the accused afterward, prompting a report to the authorities. Both men have been charged with “Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception” and have been presented in Nasinu Magistrates Court today.
Additionally, the same 20-year-old accused faces another charge for allegedly obtaining $250 from a member of the public through a similar method. He had posted another advertisement for car accessories on Facebook but did not deliver the goods after receiving the payment.