The Real Estate Agents Li­censing Board (REALB) wants stakeholders to as­sist them track bogus real estate agents who are selling properties on social media.

Real Estate Agents Association president Anand Goundar made similar sentiments during the first REALB Talanoa Session held at Al­bert Park yesterday.

According to REALB Compli­ance and Monitoring officer Vinal Singh, so far they have 13 reported cases of bogus agents in Fiji.

Mr Goundar said bogus agents are using social media sites to sell properties.

“Bogus agents do not have licens­es and do not have town and city council licences to operate,” Mr Goundar said.

“If you are bogus agent, you can­not operate.

“Many people are posting on so­cial media sites and acting like agents and when we confront them they attack us with vulgar words.

“In the end the government of Fiji is losing its revenue since real es­tate is the third largest contributor of tax revenue.

“We would like to improve on that contribution and so we are inviting the bogus real estate agents to ap­ply for the licence to operate.

“These agents will have more money operating as a licensed agent.”

Mr Goundar said the number of bogus agents have been increasing over the years and is getting worse.

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