The Anti – Scam Taskforce (Taskforce) is urgently
warning members of the public, particularly iPhone users, to
remain vigilant against a new and deceitful scam being
circulated through Apple’s iMessage platform. The message,
purportedly from “Seek HR Management”, falsely claims to
offer highly suspicious remote assistant positions with
unrealistic earnings of FJD $200 to $1,500 per day for just
15 minutes of work, along with claims about Bitcoin ATM
installations in Suva and Lautoka. It is a deliberate
attempt to lure unsuspecting consumers into fraudulent
schemes under the guise of job recruitment.
The scam
message reads:
“Hello everyone, I’m the HR
manager at Seek. We are installing Bitcoin ATMs in cities
like Suva and Lautoka, and we are currently hiring 20 remote
assistants. This job requires about 15 minutes of work each
day, with a salary ranging from 200 to 1500 FJD per day. If
you’d like to learn more about the job details, please add
me on WhatsApp: 642102811577.”
Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprises and Communications and the Chair of
the Taskforce, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, expressed grave
concern over the rise of digital scam operations targeting
everyday Fijians. “This is not just a consumer issue—it
is a national issue. We cannot allow criminal actors to
exploit digital platforms to deceive our citizens,” said
Hon. Kamikamica.
“These criminals are employing
increasingly sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate, but
their goal remains the same, to defraud hardworking Fijians.
I urge all citizens to be extremely vigilant with
unsolicited job offers, particularly those requiring
personal financial information or upfront payments. Always
verify any opportunity through official channels before
responding, and we also urge all Fijians to report such
messages to the relevant authorities immediately. It is
through vigilance and collaboration that we will protect our
communities.”
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
On behalf of the Taskforce, the
Council is urging all consumers to exercise extreme caution,
refrain from engaging with the message, and under no
circumstances respond or add the sender on WhatsApp. “This
is a textbook scam designed to exploit the curiosity and
financial aspirations of our people,” said Council CEO
Seema Shandil. “The promise of easy money for minimal work
is not just unrealistic—it’s bait. Once hooked,
consumers may be manipulated into sharing personal
information, sending money, or unknowingly participating in
illegal activity. We implore all Fijians to remain cautious,
educate their families about these threats, and report any
suspicious communications immediately.”
The
Anti-Scam Taskforce members are working closely to monitor
such threats and coordinate timely responses. Consumers are
reminded that legitimate job offers will never ask for
contact via unofficial channels such as WhatsApp messages or
offer unrealistic wages for little to no work. If it sounds
too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Scams thrive in
silence — speaking up protects not just you, but others
around you. If you have received this message or believe you
may have shared information with the scammer, contact the
Consumer Council of Fiji immediately via toll-free number
155 or email
complaints@consumersfiji.org.
