Dozens of Fake Profiles Impersonate Digital Coach

A former schoolteacher turned business owner is urging people to carry out proper due diligence when verifying Facebook pages.

This follows several cases of Fijians being scammed after sending money through the M-PAiSA platform to accounts impersonating Mereseini Baleilevuka.

Ms Baleilevuka, who runs an online business and provides coaching services, said scammers had used her name and images to create dozens of fake accounts.

On Facebook she has two Meta-verified accounts: Mereseini Baleilevuka, with 7.4k followers and 806 following; and Baleilevuka Digital Business, with 4.7k followers and 273 following. Through these verified pages, she shares videos and photos of her digital business journey.

“People started noticing how consistent I was with my posting, and some began creating accounts using my name,” she said.

“They twist the narrative of my business to make it look like an easy-fix, get-rich-quick scheme. They ask people to send money to an M-PAiSA number I do not know.”

She said vulnerable people often sent money repeatedly until they realised they had been scammed.

Ms Baleilevuka estimates there are close to 20 fake personal profiles and more than 20 fake business profiles using her name.

The scams have affected her personally, with victims sending her angry messages, screenshots and abusive calls.

“I see the big swear words and all the names they call me because they were lied to. Once I explain what actually happened, they understand they were fooled, and I advise them to report it to Police,” she said.

“I’m burdened because people are losing money. I understand their reaction.”

Meta-verified pages

“It is really a direct translation from English to Fijian, it doesn’t make sense, but these people are lured when they just look at ‘you pay $100 through M-PAiSA, and within a few hours, you will get $2000 or $3000’.

“Just the dollar signs, blinds them from the truth, they just look at that and they straight away, they communicate through messenger.”

Ms Baleilevuka stressed that her two genuine pages carry the Meta-verified blue badge.

“There is a symbol, it’s a blue variegated circle, and there’s a white tick in the middle that is the meta symbol that confirms my genuine account and people need to know how many followers I have.

Despite this, she said, many still struggled to differentiate between real and fake pages, especially when tempted by promises of fast cash.

She said scammers had begun reusing her videos and using artificial intelligence to generate captions in Fijian.

“It’s a direct translation from English and doesn’t make sense, but people are lured when they see ‘pay $100 through M-PAiSA and within hours you’ll get $2000 or $3000’. The dollar signs blind them.”

Retired school teacher, Mereseini Baleilevuka

Photo: Asenaca Ratu

She said victims often continued sending money until they were blocked, and only then went searching for the real Mereseini Baleilevuka.

“It’s sad because by the time they come to me, their money is gone. My business does not operate that way.”

Ms Baleilevuka urged people to change their mindset about “getting rich overnight”.

“Nothing good comes easy. You have to spend time, money and make sacrifices before you can reap the reward of your hard work,” she said.

She advised the public to research before sending money to anyone.

“There are many online businesses, some legitimate, some scams. If you want to protect your money, don’t be hasty or lazy. Carry out your due diligence and make sure what you’re getting involved in is legitimate.”

Feedback: laiseana.nasiga@fijisun.com.fj