A 52-year-old taxi driver from Nakasi has been charged by the Fiji Police Force M-Paisa Taskforce Team for allegedly obtaining financial advantage through deceitful means. The incident reportedly occurred on September 8 of the previous year, when the accused is said to have fraudulently collected $100 from a victim via M-Paisa.
According to police investigations, the victim was browsing Facebook when they encountered a post offering car hire services. Following instructions in the post, the victim sent a deposit in order to reserve the vehicle. However, attempts to reach the taxi driver by phone were unsuccessful.
The victim subsequently reported the incident to the Consumer Council, which then referred the case to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters of the Fiji Police Force in Toorak. The accused is currently in police custody and is expected to appear in Nasinu Magistrate Court today.
This case underscores the importance of exercising caution when engaging in online transactions, particularly with unfamiliar services. It serves as a reminder to consumers to thoroughly verify the authenticity of offers and to report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.
Summary: A taxi driver in Nakasi has been charged for allegedly scamming a victim out of $100 through an M-Paisa transaction related to a fake car hire post on Facebook. The case has been escalated to the police after the victim’s attempts to contact the driver failed. The accused has been taken into custody and will appear in court.
On a hopeful note, this incident highlights proactive consumer behavior and cooperation with authorities, which is vital in combating fraud and protecting the public.
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