Online scams has left many Fijians losing hundreds of thousands of dollars - Ali

The devastating impact of the eBay shop online recruitment scam, which has been described as one of the largest in Fiji's history, has brought national attention to the increasing threat of online scams as it has left many Fijians losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Permanent Secretary for Trade, Cooperatives, SMEs, and Communications Shaheen Ali highlighted this during the National Scams Awareness Week program today.

Ali has also highlighted other scams that are emerging, like fake messages from Post Fiji claiming to ask for payments before collection and phishing emails being particularly dangerous targeting both individuals and businesses. Ali says according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaints Centre, 847,376 complaints were filed in 2021, resulting in a total loss of USD6.9 billion—equivalent to approximately FJD 15.3 billion as phishing emails were the most common form of scam reported, with the average loss per victim in 2021 reaching around FJD 18,000.

He says online scams are a serious issue in our digital world allowing scammers to exploit vulnerable individuals for quick financial gain.

In collaboration with the Consumer Council of Fiji and the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), the Ministry has coordinated efforts among government agencies, consumer protection bodies, and telecommunication and internet partners to combat the growing threat of online fraud.

The Ministry aims to create a safer and more conducive digital environment for all by securing online spaces, empowering vulnerable individuals and preventing scams and fraud.

At a national level, the Anti-Scam Task Force has been established to enhance coordination among agencies to raise awareness of online scams and fraud, and advocate for stronger protective measures for individuals and communities.