THE Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) has become the latest target for scammers, with a video circulating on social media showing Governor Ariff Ali being interviewed by free-to-air television station Fiji One promoting a get-rich-quick scheme on an investment platform that promised a return of $18,000 a month from an investment of “just $500”. “$18,000 per month…that’s exactly how much you can earn starting with just $550,” Mr Ali said in the video.
“Yes it’s real. And it’s already happening all across the country every day. The platform from the Reserve Bank of Fiji is breaking records with over 3000 new users signing up daily. And it’s no surprise. Who wouldn’t want to earn $18,000 a month?”
When contacted by this newspaper, Mr Ali said the video was fake and that RBF has lodged a formal complaint with Facebook parent company Meta on Monday to have the videos taken down.
By yesterday, the videos were still on the Facebook platform, with viewers wanting to know how to “get-rich-quick”.
“People need to double check as they could lose hard earned money,” Mr Ali cautioned.
RBF also issued a statement yesterday warning the public that it will not be responsible for any transactions or decisions undertaken based on the contents of the video.
“The Reserve Bank of Fiji wishes to advise that a video currently circulating on various digital platforms falsely portrays the RBF Governor,” RBF stated.
“The video appears to have been generated using artificial intelligence (AI) and is spreading misleading information. The statements made in the video are entirely fabricated. The RBF does not have an investment platform for the public that trades automatically. We urge the public to rely on verified sources for accurate information, refrain from sharing the video and report the content to the relevant platform host.”
Fiji Television Ltd, parent company of Fiji One News, which was portrayed to have been reporting the news, also issued a statement condemning “the unauthorised and unethical use of our brand and the likeness and voice of our presenter in an attempt to mislead the public.”
“This video was not produced, authorised or endorsed by Fiji TV and appears to have been created using artificial intelligence or deep fake technology without the knowledge or consent of Fiji Television Ltd,” it stated.
“Fiji TV is treating this matter with utmost seriousness. We are working with the Reserve Bank of Fiji and will work with law enforcement agencies and relevant digital platforms to have the video removed and to identify the origin and intent behind its creation and distribution.”
While this is the first AI-generated video of its kind to impersonate a senior Government official in Fiji, impersonation of high-ranking officials using AI-generated videos is currently on the rise worldwide.
As recently as May, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning about an ongoing campaign using AI to impersonate senior US officials through voice and text messages. In the Pacific, a similar get-rich-quick scam is also currently making the rounds in Papua New Guinea, forcing its central bank to issue a public advisory on Monday this week, urging Papua New Guineans not to fall for it.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated July 9, 2025
