3 in custody for their alleged involvement in M-PAiSA scam

Three people are in Police custody for their alleged involvement in a M-PAiSA scam where more than $8,900 was defrauded from a supermarket.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Crime (ACP) Mesake Waqa says the manager of a supermarket based in Nabua lodged a report at the Nabua Police Station claiming that they were scammed by a caller who identified himself to be a Senior Manager of Vodafone.

ACP Waqa says the suspect told the Manager that he was calling to upgrade the E-ticketing machine and needed the balance left in the machine to be transferred in order to facilitate the upgrade.

He says more than $8,900 was transferred, and once the transaction was complete, the suspect said he would call after 15 minutes, which never eventuated.

ACP Waqa says investigators managed to track down the number and arrested the suspect who was taken into custody.

Another couple residing in Makoi were also taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the same scam and are being questioned at the Nabua Police Station.

ACP Waqa says during the course of investigation and based on the alleged modus operandi, there is a likelihood that the suspect is linked to similar reports lodged at the Valelevu, Nausori, Tavua, Ba, Lautoka, Nadi Border and Namaka Police Stations.

Anyone who may have fallen victim to a M-PAiSA scam and had received a call from someone claiming to be a senior manager of a mobile company is requested to call Crime Stoppers on 919.