Five individuals have been recently charged by the Fiji Police M-PAiSA Task Force for allegedly obtaining financial advantage through deception. According to a statement from Fiji Police, a 32-year-old woman from Tavakubu, Lautoka, is accused of misleading a member of the public into giving her $200 on July 28, 2023.
In another case, a 20-year-old from Waiyavi, Lautoka, is alleged to have deceitfully secured $327 in March of the previous year. This money was transferred to him for the purchase of six bags of chicken advertised on Facebook, but he reportedly failed to deliver the products. Additionally, he has been implicated in a similar scheme involving a 50-year-old man.
The police also reported that a 24-year-old man was charged for allegedly receiving $200 for an item advertised on Facebook. After receiving the payment, he reportedly ceased all communication with the victim. Furthermore, a 33-year-old man is accused of obtaining $190 in April this year as a deposit for timber advertised on Facebook.
The Fiji Police Force has urged the public to remain alert and verify all online sales. They recommend personally checking items whenever possible before making any monetary exchange. The statement emphasized that individuals claiming to be sales agents for reputable companies can be verified by contacting the company directly, as some scammers operate by offering products at discounted rates.
All accused individuals appeared at the Lautoka Magistrate’s Court yesterday.