OVER $1.5M LOST THROUGH CYBER CRIME: BUKSH
Financial Intelligence Unit is in partnership with Fiji Police Force to tackle financial crimes.
The level of crime in Fiji is becoming moré complex with the increasing in Cyber crime related activities. This was said by Financial Intelligence Unit Director, Razim Buksh yesterday. “We are looking at 1.5 to 1.6 million dollars lost through cyber crimes in local businesses. “The criminals are considered as non-Fijians so they operate outside of Fiji’s border.” Mr Buksh added the victims are our businesses in Fiji, ordinary Fijian and our financial institutions. Also students and mothers are losing their savings ranging from 100’s to 1000’s of dollars to cyber scam e-mails in the pretext of getting employment or where they are lured into getting huge amounts of money, he falsely says. “We have to contain the level of Cyber crime in Fiji and we are working closely with the Fiji Police to tackle the issues.” Yesterday, FIU and Fiji Police Force for the first time had a partnership meeting where they discussed on how to tackle these ongoing issues. Mr Buksh highlighted that last year, there were 58 intelligence dissemination reports given to the police force which involves a suspected amount of $60 million. He said based on the suspicion in the reports provided to FIU, Police could use it as a guide to further investigations. “This is reflective of work that the FIU takes in support of the investigation of money laundering and other investigation crimes. “FIU plays a crucial role in supporting the law enforcement agencies and more particularly the financial intelligence. “We also provide reactive assistance investigating several matters and also non-financial crimes, so the FIU is providing that assistance to Fiji Police Force. He added that the scopes that the police are operation on are wide and broad which requires the support of the intelligence arm. Police Commissioner BrigadierGeneral Sitiveni Qiliho said the meeting was very constructive. He added that Police have been investigating over the years and now in partnership with FIU, and other stakeholders, they would complement each other in dealing with such cases and the nature and complexity that are involved. Meanwhile Mr Buksh concluded saying the issue could be prevented and there are preventive measures in directing financial institutions. “We intend to keep the meeting in regular basis and we ensure to continue exchanging information with the Fiji Police in the very efficient manner,” said Mr Buksh.