The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) would like to warn and advise members of the public to exercise extreme caution when dealing with individuals posing as officials of the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
The Director of the FIU, Mr Razim Buksh said that a number of cases have been recently brought to the attention of the FIU whereby more than 50 locals, particularly from the Western Division have fallen victim to a carefully planned scam and have lost money ranging from $100 to $1,100 totalling some $30,000 within two months.
Mr Buksh said that the scam involves an organised group of a few individuals who pose as LTA officers and convince customers to deposit cash into personal bank accounts of the conspirators in return of LTA services. Money deposited is immediately withdrawn at various ATMs, mostly in the Western Division.
Mr Buksh said that their intelligence has identified some of the victims and is currently working with the Fiji Police Force to establish whether the victims had prior knowledge of the scam and yet got involved to seek the services of LTA dishonestly or by illegal means.
Mr. Buksh would like to warn and advise the general public to: –
1. Exercise diligence when approached by individuals posing to be officials of LTA;
2. Refrain from depositing money into personal bank accounts for payment of LTA services;
3. Follow the procedures and rules of the LTA at all times and not to engage with third parties and middlemen for LTA services;
4. Must obtain a proper receipt from the LTA for any payments made;
5. Must not give their personal bank account information and share their bank cards with others; and
6. Report to the FIU, the LTA or the Fiji Police of any known cases or individuals suspected to be linked to this type of scam.
The FIU will continue to monitor all financial transactions to ensure that Fiji’s financial system is safe and remains protected from such criminal activities.
Reserve Bank of Fiji