Desperation can drive many to fall victim to scams, in the struggle to make ends meet.
Online scammers, akin to vultures circling its prey, exploit such vulnerability.
Online fraud is on the rise, and can result in substantial financial loss.
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When you envision a typical scam victim, you might think of someone who is computer illiterate.
There’s a common assumption that being tech-savvy shields you from fraudsters.
However, this is not the case. Even tech-savvy individuals can be ensnared by well-crafted schemes. No one is immune!
Recently, the Consumer Council of Fiji exposed what they labelled as a scam, known as “EbayShop Online Recruitment”.
The pyramid type scheme prompted the consumer watchdog to issue a public warning to caution and question the legitamacy of the set up. A comprehensive investigation followed.
Most recently, other local authorities, such as the Reserve Bank of Fiji and Vodafone Fiji, joined the call for extra vigilance.
So where did we go wrong? As far as the Fijian culture is concerned, we are prone to go with what every one else says or thinks. It’s in our DNA. We don’t ask questions. That cultural thinking must stop! We should no longer be gullible.
Many of us are educated enough to understand the difference between what’s real and what’s not.
Whom should we blame? Ourselves of course, but the system has failed us too.
Local authorities like the banks, the Reserve Bank of Fiji, the Online Safety Commission, the Consumer Council of Fiji and the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission have fallen short in their role to educate the vulnerable public.
And let’s not forget the communications industry? As far as consumers are concerned, we’ve all been dupped! They, too, need to play a bigger role to educate the customers about the risks involved.
How do we recover from this? All these organisations need to launch extensive public awareness campaigns about common scams, their characteristics and how the public can help recognise and report them.
These can be conducted through various means using media channels – television, radio, social media and community workshops.
Financial institituions need to do the same by helping the public detect and prevent dubiuos finacial transactions from taking shape.
Government must strengthen its legislations to enact and update laws and regulations related to online frauds and scams. This may include stricter penalties for scammers and enhance consumer protection.
We live in a era where technology and information is at the tip of our fingers – there is no excuse that these can’t be exucuted.
Let’s prioritise public education about the risks involved in scams, advocating for caution in online interactions, and urging individuals to report scams to the relevant authorities.
To those who have fallen victims you can only learn from your mistakes and move on – to be more vigilant and protect oneself from another scam.
You can also use your experience to educate and empower others.
Feedback: naisak@fijisun.com.fj
