The country’s Anti-Scam Taskforce has alerted members of the public to a new wave of recruitment scams targeting Fijians via iMessages.
According to the Taskforce, the scam begins with a message from a supposed recruiter offering unrealistic claims.
The message reads: “Hi, my name is Karina-Jo and I’m a Recruiter. We are currently looking for a part-time assistant to join our team. The online work hours are flexible and you can work remotely. This job only takes 1 hour per day to complete, can be done at any time and place, and the daily salary ranges from $100 to $300. You will be paid immediately at the end of each workday. All you need is a smartphone or computer to start working. You can even work on weekends or any free time. If you are interested, please contact me via WhatsApp: +17408055273 Note: You must be 22 years old or above”.
The taskforce said once individuals expressed interest, they were either asked to provide personal information or to make an upfront payment to proceed with the application.
It said in many cases, this personal information is later used to commit identity theft, hack into accounts or perpetrate other scams.
Taskforce chair and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica said this was not the first time they had seen scammers take advantage of Fiji’s high demand for overseas or remote employment.
“As we have said before, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is,” Mr Kamikamica said in a statement from the ministry.
Consumer Council chief executive Seema Shandil urged Fijians to verify all claims before engaging with online recruiters.
“While there are genuine and legitimate online recruiters operating in Fiji, it is essential to approach such offers with a healthy dose of scepticism and to question everything,” Ms Shandil said in the statement.
The taskforce has advised Fijians that legitimate recruiters and employers do not promise exorbitant pay for minimal work, nor do they ask for upfront payments or sensitive personal information during the early stages of recruitment.
It urged them to remain alert, report suspicious messages, and share the warning with friends and family to help prevent others from falling victim to such scams. The public is advised to contact the toll-free national consumer helpline at 155 or email Complaints@consumersfiji.org to report scams.
The Fiji Anti-Scam Taskforce was launched in January last year.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated June 19, 2025
