Housing Ministry urges people to be aware of scammers who are pretending to be Ministry agents

The Ministry of Housing is urging all Fijians to be cautious of those who pretend to be representatives of the Ministry as a person on Facebook is pretending to be an agent of the Ministry in assisting with First Home Grant Applications.

Permanent Secretary for Housing and Community Development, Sanjeeva Perera says the Ministry does not accept direct applications, nor do they employ agents or middlemen to accept applications on their behalf for the First Home and First Land grant programmes.

Perera says the only legitimate way to apply for these programmes is through the Bank, Housing Authority of Fiji, Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources or iTaukei Land Trust Board.

He says these services do not attract any fees or charges.

Perera adds applications are processed strictly on a first come - first serve basis so, if anyone approaches you saying they can fast track the processing of the application at a fee, that is a false statement.

The Permanent Secretary further says if anyone approaches you for assistance at a fee or a charge, be cautious as you could be the next victim of another scam.

Perera adds they are urging the public to be aware of such activities and to inform the Ministry of any such suspicious activities.

First Home Grant application forms are available on the Ministry's website – www.housing.gov.fj, all Commercial banks and at the Housing Authority of Fiji.