A 21-year-old nursing student along with a 36-year-old market vendor from Labasa are set to appear in court today after being charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception. The charges stem from separate incidents involving mobile money transfers.
In the first incident, the nursing student allegedly deceived a victim into transferring $150 on May 18, 2023. This occurred after the victim saw a post on social media advertising a phone for sale, which was linked to a fake account. Under the pretense of selling the phone, the accused communicated with the victim, even providing a fake ID to solidify the scam. After sending the deposit, the victim was unable to contact the student to finalize the purchase, leading to a report to the police.
In connection with the vendor, investigations revealed that on March 23, 2023, she tricked another victim into sending $150. The victim received a text from someone claiming to be their department head asking for a loan via mobile transfer. Believing the request was genuine, the victim complied, only to discover later that the request was fraudulent. The money was promptly withdrawn the same day.
These cases highlight the increasing concern over scams exploiting mobile money transfer apps, which have seen a rise in fraudulent activities. Recent similar incidents have involved various individuals charged with deception through similar tactics, such as fake advertisements and misrepresentation of identity.
Community awareness regarding these scams is crucial. Authorities urge people to verify requests they receive, especially when it involves money transfers, to help prevent financial loss. Overall, increasing vigilance can help protect the public from these types of deceitful schemes.
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