A self-employed lecturer received funds from various parties from January to August this year through multiple ‘wallets’ – under the EbayShop Online Recruiting scheme – that facilitated transactions of more than $300,000.
The Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) also noted that one of those wallets was used to purchase cryptocurrency from at least three online exchanges through the use of an international debit card.
In another FIU investigation, found a shop sales representative in Suva – claimed to be an agent for the scheme – had made nine large cash deposits to her personal bank account totaling $33,600 between July to August this year.
FIU also noted that the woman also received 21 bank transfers totaling $51,500, and the bank transactions were made in reference to the desired ‘Ebay level and fee’.
FIU director Razim Buksh said the same woman conducted multiple cash and remittance transactions before making large cash withdrawals totaling $52,260, “supposedly for her personal use to construct her house”.
Mr Buksh said while only two cases were brought to their attention, social media reports indicated several thousand vulnerable Fijians who had lost their money to the illegal pyramid scheme through ‘local agents’.
He said the FIU had commenced investigations and profiling of seven known ‘agents’ of EbayShop Online Recruiting yesterday.
“FIU’s intelligence case reports will be disseminated to the Fiji Police Force for further action, including possible restraining and forfeiture of any tainted funds,” Mr Buksh said.
