“MOTHER’S Day is about showing appreciation—not exploitation,” said Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) chief executive officer Senikavika L. Jiuta. “We want to ensure that consumers celebrate without being subjected to dishonest pricing or deceptive advertising.”
The competition watchdog this week issued a warning to traders ahead of Mother’s Day tomorrow.
“Any trader caught engaging in unscrupulous practices will face enforcement action,” Ms Jiuta said.
“For instance, 55 breaches were discovered over 1100 inspections carried out during the Easter period, and all these traders are currently under investigation for further enforcement action.
“FCCC reminds all businesses that promotional pricing must be transparent, clearly displayed, and consistent at the point of sale.
“Additionally, all goods and services must be of acceptable quality, and consumers are entitled to redress under the FCCC Act 2010.”
In recent weeks, FCCC teams have been actively monitoring popular retail and hospitality outlets, particularly those selling flowers, perfumes, jewellery, clothing, gift packs and offering restaurant or accommodation promotions.
Meanwhile, ANZ Fiji has also urged customers to remain hyper-vigilant against scams this Mother’s Day, encouraging families to have an open conversation with each other to ensure they know how to spot the warning signs.
In particular, the bank is reminding people to be wary of fraudulent text messages or calls from ‘loved ones’ claiming to need urgent financial help.
ANZ Fiji country head Rabih Yazbek advised regular family check-ins to stay informed about evolving scam tactics, as scammers were becoming more sophisticated in the use of text messages, social media and phone calls to impersonate others. “As scam tactics advance, recognizing warning signs is crucial,” Mr Yazbek said.
“Remember, ANZ will never contact customers asking for their account details or their log in details for ANZ Internet Banking or the ANZ Pacific App, and we will never ask customers to click on a link.
“Be extra diligent – if something doesn’t seem right, or is unexpected, question it.”
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated May 10, 2025
