4 to front court today for alleged fraud

Four people will front court today for their alleged involvement in three separate cases of alleged fraud.

Police say in the first case, two people were charged by the Fiji Police M-PaiSA 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.

Police say the first accused is 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 in the Suva Magistrates Court today.

The second case involves a 43-year-old man of Natua, Seaqaqa, who on the 12th of November 2023, allegedly dishonestly obtained $181 from a member of the public after it was transferred to his account.

The accused is alleged to have used the money to cater for personal expenses.

Police say the third report resulted in the arrest of a 28-year-old woman from Nagigi in Labasa after she dishonestly obtained $680 from a member of the public.

It is alleged that on the 12th of February 2024, the accused hacked a Viber account belonging to the victim’s friend and sent a message requesting $680 to cater for an emergency expense.

The money was transferred and was withdrawn by the accused.

The victim only realised she got scammed when she asked her friend if she had received the money.

The accused is charged with one count of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

The 43-year-old man and the 28-year-old woman will be produced in a special court sitting in the Labasa Magistrates Court today.