Four charged for alleged fraud

Four people will be produced at two special court sittings in Suva and Labasa for their alleged involvement in three cases of alleged fraud.

In the first case, two people were charged by the Fiji Police MPAISA task force for allegedly dishonestly obtaining $340 and failing to provide a car rental service.

The first accused, a 29-year-old man, is alleged to have posted a car rental advertisement on Facebook, whereby the victim sent $340 to hire a vehicle.

The 29-year-old allegedly withdrew the money and gave the money to the second accused, a 37-year-old woman.

The first accused has been charged with one count of Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception and one count of Dishonesty Dealing with Personal Financial Information, while the second accused faces a charge of Possession of Property Suspected to Be Proceeds Of Crime.

Both will be produced at the Suva Magistrates Court today. In the second case, a 43-year-old man of Natua, Seaqaqa is alleged to have on the 12th day of November 2023, dishonestly obtained $181 from a member of the public, after the said money was transferred to his account.

The accused is alleged to have used the money to cater for personal expenses. The third report resulted in the arrest of a 28-year-old woman of Nagigi in Labasa, after she dishonestly obtained $680 from a member of the public.

It is alleged that on the 12th day of February 2024, the accused hacked a viber account belonging to the victim’s friend, and sent a message requesting the said amount to cater for an emergency expense.

The money was transferred to the accused and withdrawn. The victim only realised she was scammed when she asked her friend if she had received the money.

The accused has been charged with one count of Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception. Both the 43-year-old man and 28-year-old woman will be produced in a special court sitting at the Labasa Magistrates Court today.