Fiji Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams affecting tourists and residents in Fiji, with official reporting routes through the Fiji Police Force.
Emergency number: 911 — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Fiji is a major Pacific tourism hub, attracting visitors to Suva, Nadi and the outer islands for resorts, diving and cultural experiences. The visitor-facing scams cluster around Nadi: unlicensed taxis and 'transfer helpers' at the international airport quoting invented fares, sword-and-souvenir sellers who carve a name into an item and then demand payment, fake or double-booked island-resort and villa listings on social media collecting deposits from abroad, and unofficial island-hopping and dive sellers whose boats lack safety equipment or never depart. Booking transfers and excursions through resorts or licensed operators removes most of the risk.
For residents, the money rails are M-PAiSA and MyCash mobile wallets plus the retail banks, and fraud follows accordingly: fake 'wrong transfer' reversal requests, phishing impersonating ANZ, BSP and Westpac, prize hoaxes and fake giveaways on Facebook, hijacked accounts begging contacts for top-ups, and task scams recruited over Messenger that escalate into deposits. Ponzi and multi-level schemes recur through community, church and kava-circle networks with promises of doubled money, and overseas-work brokers charge fees for seasonal-work placements in Australia and New Zealand that legitimate schemes never charge for.
The Fiji Police Force and the 911 emergency number are the primary reporting channels, with a dedicated Cybercrime Unit inside the Criminal Investigations Department. Wallet provider or bank first when money moves, then the police case number the dispute will need.
Common scams
- Phishing messages impersonating Fijian banks or mobile services
- Investment and crypto fraud promoted via social media
- Fake online marketplace listings with advance payment
- Romance scams escalating to financial requests
Tourist-specific scams
- Overcharging unlicensed taxis at Nadi International Airport
- Fake resort or villa booking websites listing non-existent properties
- Overpriced or unofficial island-hopping and dive operators
- Beach-vendor pressure selling with inflated prices
Online shopping scams
- Fake social media shops with counterfeit or non-existent goods
- Delivery fee SMS scams impersonating courier services
- Phishing links targeting online banking credentials
Job scams
- Fake resort or overseas job ads requiring advance fees
- Task scams via messaging apps escalating into deposit demands
- Bogus brokers charging for Australia/NZ seasonal-work placements that are free through official schemes
Romance scams
- Dating-app grooming escalating to investment or money requests
- Fake online partners seeking emergency wire transfers
- Hijacked Facebook accounts asking the victim's contacts for top-ups and loans
Investment scams
- Fake forex and crypto platforms promoted on social media
- Pig-butchering combining romance with fabricated investment portals
- Ponzi and multi-level schemes recruited through community and church networks
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank immediately to freeze affected accounts
- Call 911 to reach the Fiji Police Force for urgent matters
- Report cybercrime to the Criminal Investigations Department Cyber Division via police.gov.fj
- Preserve all screenshots, messages and transaction receipts as evidence
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Call your bank on the number on your card or through the official app, never on a number given to you, and ask for an emergency hold on the transfer. Explain that you were deceived into authorising the payment, which routes you to the fraud team rather than general enquiries, and ask for the receiving account to be reported and for a reference. M-PAiSA and MyCash fraud should be reported to the wallet provider's official care line with the transaction reference — wallet funds can sometimes be held before cash-out at an agent. If you shared codes or passwords, mention that and change them. A Fiji Police Force case number, from 911 or police.gov.fj, supports the formal dispute; overseas visitors who paid deposits for fake accommodation by card should also pursue chargebacks through their home issuer.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
Does Fiji have a dedicated cybercrime unit?
Yes. The Fiji Police Force maintains a Cybercrime Unit within the Criminal Investigations Department that monitors online activity and investigates phishing, online fraud and computer-enabled crimes. Report via police.gov.fj or by calling 911.
How do I avoid fake accommodation bookings in Fiji?
Book island resorts and villas through established platforms or the property's verified official channels, not through social-media pages demanding deposit transfers. Fake and double-booked listings collecting deposits from overseas visitors are a recurring pattern — confirm the booking directly with the resort by phone before paying anything further.
Do Australia and New Zealand seasonal-work schemes charge fees in Fiji?
Recruitment under the official seasonal-work programmes runs through government-managed processes, and workers should not be paying private 'brokers' for guaranteed placements. Anyone charging fees for a guaranteed spot is running a scam — check with the Ministry of Employment before paying anyone.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance