The Fiji Commerce Commission has raised concerns about false claims being circulated on Facebook on “ Fiji to enjoy free visa to Australia”.
Commerce Commission CEO, Joel Abraham says this is a major concern as more than 50 cases of misleading and deceptive trade practices by various travel agents have been recorded in which Fijians have lost over $190,000 in the past year or so.
He says the commission has been keeping a close eye on visa issues in the travel industry specifically, travel agents and unethical elements claiming to provide visas to Australia and New Zealand.
Abraham says they have been informed by unsuspecting victims of these bogus travel agents that they have gone through extreme hardship to arrange for funds for their visa applications and to meet bogus requirements by the Travel Agents.
The Ministry of Labour is also looking into complaints where bogus agents are using work visas and opportunities to defraud Fijians.
Abraham says the trend has since moved to tourist visas, nanny visas, parent visas and other types of visas.
