Fijians tricked through social media to pay customs clearance fees for goods

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service is advising members of the public to be wary of fake Facebook and WhatsApp requests demanding them to pay customs clearance fees before their goods are released to them.

Information gathered by FRCS revealed that a number of Fijians have been tricked through fake Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger requests advising them that the goods they have imported were being held by ‘Customs’ and that they need to pay customs clearance fees into numerous local bank accounts.

FRCS Acting Chief Executive Officer Fane Vave says this money is then withdrawn from bank accounts by swindlers and remitted through post office to their partners.

The total cash involved in all transactions to date is $31,620.

Vave has clarified that payment for customs clearance are only done at Customs counters and through FRCS bank account and they will never ask people through Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger to make payments.

If people receive such requests, they can call FRCS Hotline number 1326 or email on info@frcs.org.fj for verification.