Police in Lautoka, Fiji, have charged five individuals with obtaining financial advantage by deception.
The cases involve scams where the accused dishonestly obtained money. The scammer defrauded unsuspecting members of the public through online transactions.
The first case involves a 32-year-old woman from Tavakubu, Lautoka. She obtained $200 on July 28, 2023, using the money for her MasterCard.
The second case involves a 20-year-old resident of Waiyavi, Lautoka. On March 4, 2023, he dishonestly obtained $327 to purchase six bags of chicken advertised on Facebook. The accused withdrew the money but failed to deliver the goods.
The same 20-year-old is also allegedly involved in a similar scam with a 50-year-old man from Lautoka. He allegedly obtained $820 from another victim for payments of six bags of chicken.
The third case involves a 33-year-old man. The man was accused of obtaining $190 in April 2024 as a deposit for timber advertised online through Facebook.
All five accused will appear in the Lautoka Magistrates Court today. Police advise the public to verify sales, inspect items, and use trusted contacts.
Always check on goods in another division and verify the legitimacy of sales agents by calling the company they claim to represent.
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