Many Fijians are tricked through fake Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger requests to pay customs fees for their goods - FRCS

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service is urging Fijians to be careful of fake Facebook and WhatsApp messages requesting payments to clear customs charges before their goods are released.

FRCS says a number of Fijians are being tricked through fake

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 says it is concerned that despite numerous awareness on this issue, people are still continuing to become susceptible to such scams and are losing thousands of dollars in the process.

It says this money is then withdrawn from bank accounts by swindlers and remitted through post office to their partners.

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

It further says if people receive such requests, they should call FRCS Hotline number 1326 or email on info@frcs.org.fj for verification before remitting the funds.