The Fiji Police MPaisa Task Force has charged three individuals in separate cases for allegedly 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 some money. 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 but received no response when she tried to contact the caller. The matter was reported and the woman has been charged with one count of obtaining financial advantage by deception. She will appear at the Nadi Magistrates Court today.
In a separate incident, 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 afterwards, prompting a report to the authorities. Both men have been charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception and were presented at the Nasinu Magistrates Court today.
Additionally, the same 20-year-old accused is facing another charge related to a separate case where he allegedly obtained $250 from a member of the public through a similar means. He had posted an advertisement for car accessories on Facebook but did not deliver the goods after receiving the money transfer from the victim.