Two individuals appeared in the Sigatoka Magistrates Court, facing charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception and possessing property suspected to be the proceeds of crime. The first accused, a 25-year-old man from Nadi, is embroiled in two separate cases connected to deceptive practices.
In the first case, he allegedly scammed a victim in August 2023 out of $3,000 by promoting a non-existent investment opportunity through Facebook. The victim became aware of the scam when promised returns failed to materialize and subsequently reported the incident to Tavua Police Station. As a result, the Fiji Police Cyber Task Force charged him with obtaining financial advantage by deception and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The second case against this same accused involves a claim of obtaining $1,000 from another victim in April 2023 under similar pretenses. When the victim could not reach him after several attempts, they reported it to the Nasinu Police Station, leading to additional charges.
Additionally, a 24-year-old woman from Lautoka has been charged with obtaining $200 in November 2022. This accusation stems from her misleading a victim who paid for a taxi permit, only to find her attempts to reach the accused unanswered. The victim reported the matter to the Lautoka Police Station.
These cases highlight a troubling trend of financial scams where victims are lured through social media and false promises of high returns on investment. Law enforcement agencies have emphasized the importance of community vigilance against such scams. Public awareness campaigns are crucial in equipping potential victims with the knowledge necessary to identify red flags and make informed decisions before engaging in financial transactions.
Despite the negative aspects of these incidents, it is hopeful to see authorities actively pursuing fraud cases, aiming to protect consumers and preserve the integrity of financial transactions in the community.
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