Latest news with #Kamikamica
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Fiji: Urgent Public Warning: Bitcoin ATM Job Scam Targeting Fijians
Fijians Advised To Ignore Fraudulent Job Offers Circulating Via WhatsApp 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.' 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@
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Fiji: Urgent Public Warning: Bitcoin ATM Job Scam Targeting Fijians
Press Release – Consumer Council of Fiji Fijians Advised To Ignore Fraudulent Job Offers Circulating Via WhatsApp 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.' 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@
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Fiji: Urgent Public Warning: Bitcoin ATM Job Scam Targeting Fijians
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.' 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@
RNZ News
01-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 1 May
Stephen Felix, Vanuatu's new Speaker, was elected unopposed. 11 February 2025 Photo: Screengrab / Facebook / Vanuatu Parliament A special sitting of Vanuatu's parliament on the Constitution on Wednesday failed to go ahead due to a lack of numbers. The sitting was scheduled to introduce five major amendments to the Constitution, one being the recognition of only two genders, male and female, at birth. However, as the sitting got underway, Speaker Stephen Felix said a quorum was not met, and then adjourned parliament to 7 May. Local media reported opposition MPs arrived at parliament buildings but did not enter the chamber to take their seats. Under the Constitution, any amendments require a two-thirds majority in Parliament - 36 out of 52 votes - to be officially adopted. Fiji's Electoral Reform Commission says it is wrong to demand former convicts wait eight years before they can contest a general election. Daniel Fatiaki told FBC that, while the stand down period is mandated in the 2013 Constitution, it flouts human rights. His comments follow suggestions that Fiji's convicted former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama could contest next year's election. Fatiaki told the national broadcaster that the waiting period constituted a second punishment. Bainimarama originally seized power in a coup in 2006 and now wants his corruption conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal. Fijian Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica says the country's weighted average tariffs on US goods come out at about 1.8 percent. FBC reported Kamikamica saying about 72 percent of US goods imported into Fiji enter duty-free. He said 25 percent are subject to a five-percent duty, while around three percent of US products face higher tariffs ranging from 15 to 32 percent. US President Donald Trump slapped a 32 percent tariff on Fiji, but it is now under a 90-day pause, during which it is back at the 10 per cent base levy. Kamikamica said around 70 percent of Fiji's key exporters derive 60 percent of their revenue from the US market. Tourism Solomons is celebrating its best first quarter international visitor intake since 2019. The Solomon Star reported visitor arrivals from January to March this year hit 5612, up from 4903 for the same time last year. Australian arrivals dominated the figures, with 1570 arrivals in the period. PNG arrivals dropped slightly while Fijian arrvials, and collective numbers from other South Pacific countries, went up. Tourism Solomons acting CEO Dagnal Dereveke attributed the figures to the country's hosting of three major events, including a pageant in February and a summit and a football tournament in March. World Vision's 40-hour famine has morphed into a 40-hour challenge, and this year the Pacific is the target. The charity's New Zealand associate national director TJ Grant said it's about giving young people in Aotearoa a chance to connect with something bigger and greater than themselves. "Young people when they raise funds, when they get support, they're going to be able to support really tangible, meaningful programs that are going to make a difference for children and families and future generations in Solomon Islands," he said. "We were in a remote area, Marau Sound - the people there, 80 per cent still rely on fishing and farming for their livelihoods." TJ Grant said in the Solomons, traditional livelihoods are getting harder to sustain with challenges like climate change, and support would include new farming techniques and different tools. World Vision Solomon Islands youth advocate, 19-year-old Roy Wasi, has represented his country at a number of global climate change forums. He said people there rely on food from the garden and the sea. "One of the biggest issues that our people face is the changing weather patterns, or even I say, the climate change. It's really affecting the children and how the people live."
