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Fiji (FJ)

A tropical South Pacific hub with English-language administration, strong tourism and NGO sectors, rich iTaukei and Indo-Fijian cultures, and a relaxed but paperwork-heavy expat lifestyle.

Capital: Suva
Region: Oceania
Language: English
Currency: FJD ($)
Cost of living: Affordable (index 48)
Emergency: 911
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Fiji.

Fiji is a generally friendly destination, but expats and tourists face documented risks around rental deposits, land purchase fraud, fraudulent tourist services, online investment scams, and employment-related fraud. The Consumer Council of Fiji received 113 scam complaints between September 2024 and September 2025 alone, with financial losses exceeding FJD 82,000 — including FJD 34,000 lost by one couple to investment scammers using a deepfake of the Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor. The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) and the Reserve Bank of Fiji (rbf.gov.fj) are the primary consumer and financial fraud authorities. Three golden rules: never pay any property deposit without viewing and verifying the title; verify any investment firm with the Reserve Bank of Fiji before committing funds; and report suspected scams to the Consumer Council of Fiji's free National Consumer Helpline on 155. Emergency: 917 (police and ambulance).

Fake Rental Deposit Scam

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A fraudulent rental listing appears on Facebook groups, social media, or classifieds at an attractive below-market price. The "landlord" insists on a deposit before any viewing and is unable to meet in person. This has been confirmed as an active scam pattern in Fiji, with a family reported losing FJD 4,000 to fraudsters using a fake holiday accommodation listing.

How to spot it
  • - Rent or accommodation price is significantly below comparable properties in the same area
  • - Landlord or owner claims to be abroad and unable to show the property
  • - Deposit or advance payment required before any in-person or live video viewing
  • - Refuses to provide a verifiable agent name, real estate licence, or property title details
  • - Photos are copied from other listings — perform a reverse image search
  • - Payment requested only by cash, M-PAiSA, or bank transfer to a personal account
What to do: Never pay any deposit before viewing the property in person and confirming the landlord holds valid title. Use a licensed Fijian real estate agent. For rental fraud, report to the Fiji Police Force (917) and the Consumer Council of Fiji (155 or complaints@consumersfiji.org).

Land That Cannot Be Sold to You

critical

The majority of land in Fiji is iTaukei (indigenous customary) land that cannot be sold outright to non-indigenous Fijians or foreigners. It can only be leased under the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) system. Some sellers mislead buyers — especially foreign expats — by implying that a private agreement or a village consent gives them full ownership rights. The transaction is legally void and no title can be registered.

How to spot it
  • - Seller implies you can own iTaukei land outright through a private cash agreement
  • - Seller suggests "village agreement" alone is sufficient without a formal TLTB lease
  • - No lawyer is involved and no title search has been conducted
  • - Urgent cash payment request with promise of documentation "later"
  • - Seller discourages you from doing independent legal verification
What to do: Always use an independent Fijian property lawyer for any land transaction. Conduct a title search through the Titles Office before paying anything. Verify lease type and TLTB consent status. Report fraudulent land sales to the Fiji Police Force (917).

Tourist Service Fraud (Water Sports, Tours, Taxis)

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Tourists and new expats in Nadi, Suva, the Coral Coast, and Denarau Island face well-documented schemes: jet ski and water sports rental operators who claim damage compensation for pre-existing scratches using a card imprint taken as "deposit"; unofficial taxi drivers overcharging from Nadi airport; and fake tour operators who take upfront payment for trips that are cancelled or substandard. The FCCC and Consumer Council have issued repeated warnings about these practices.

How to spot it
  • - Taxi driver does not quote a fare before departure — always agree on the amount in FJD first
  • - Jet ski or water sports operator insists on a card imprint "for damage security" without a written pre-rental damage inspection form
  • - Tour operator cannot provide a verifiable business address, registration number, or written itinerary
  • - Tour is offered by someone approaching you unsolicited at a beach, hotel entrance, or market
  • - Pressure to book and pay cash immediately without a written receipt
What to do: Agree all prices in advance and in writing. For water sports rentals: inspect the equipment thoroughly before use and photograph any existing damage before signing the rental form. Use hotel-recommended or Tourism Fiji registered operators. Report overcharging and fraud to the FCCC (fccc.gov.fj) or Consumer Council of Fiji (155).

Investment Scam (Deepfake and Fake Platform)

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The Reserve Bank of Fiji confirmed in 2025 that fraudsters used a deepfake video impersonating the RBF Governor and a Fiji One News journalist to promote a fake investment platform promising high crypto and forex returns. An elderly couple lost FJD 34,000 to this scheme. The RBF has launched a confidential disclosure platform for reporting unlicensed financial service providers.

How to spot it
  • - Investment opportunity promoted through social media video featuring recognisable Fijian public figures — deepfakes can look convincing
  • - Guaranteed high returns on foreign currency or cryptocurrency investments
  • - Investment firm is not licensed by the Reserve Bank of Fiji (rbf.gov.fj)
  • - Platform uses RBF or Fiji government logos in marketing without verifiable authority
  • - Withdrawal is delayed, complicated, or refused once funds are deposited
  • - Pressure to recruit friends or family for referral bonuses
What to do: Verify any investment firm with the Reserve Bank of Fiji at rbf.gov.fj. Report suspicious unlicensed providers via the RBF's confidential disclosure platform at rbf.gov.fj/confidential-disclosures. Report to the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (fijifiu.gov.fj) and Fiji Police (917).

Fake Online Job Offer (Booking.com Review Scam)

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A fraudulent recruitment scam widely reported by the Consumer Council of Fiji in 2025 offers paid online review jobs supposedly for Booking.com or similar travel platforms. Victims are contacted via WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, or email. After completing some fake initial "tasks," they are asked to pay a fee or top up a "balance" to unlock their earnings — which never materialise.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited job offer via WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media offering easy money for writing reviews
  • - No formal employment contract, employer address, or business registration provided
  • - Initial small "earnings" are visible on the platform but cannot be withdrawn
  • - Required to deposit money to "unlock" your balance or complete a "task batch"
  • - Booking.com has confirmed it does not recruit review writers through WhatsApp or Telegram
What to do: Do not pay any money or share banking details. Report to the Consumer Council of Fiji (consumersfiji.org, free helpline 155) and the FCCC (fccc.gov.fj).

Cyclone Repair Contractor Fraud

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After tropical cyclones, unlicensed contractors approach property owners demanding a large cash upfront deposit before starting repairs. Work is either never started, abandoned, or of very poor quality. This is a recurring post-storm pattern documented in Fiji.

How to spot it
  • - Contractor approaches you unsolicited immediately after storm damage
  • - No written quote, references, or business licence is offered
  • - Demands a large cash deposit (more than 30 %) before any work begins
  • - No materials list or written scope of work provided
  • - Cash-only payment with no official receipt
What to do: Obtain at least three written quotes from referral-verified contractors. Use staged payments tied to completion milestones — no more than 30 % upfront. Photograph all work stages. Report contractor fraud to the Fiji Police Force (917).

Work Permit Fixer

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An individual poses as an immigration consultant with "connections" inside the Fiji Immigration Department, guaranteeing work permit or residency approval for an upfront cash fee. The permit never materialises and the fraudster may retain original identity documents.

How to spot it
  • - Guarantees immigration approval for a cash fee with no official receipt
  • - Claims inside connections at the Immigration Department
  • - Requests to hold your original passport as "collateral"
  • - Refuses to put scope and fees in a written signed contract
  • - Asks you to avoid direct contact with the Immigration Department
What to do: Use only registered Fijian immigration lawyers or licensed consultants. Pay all government fees directly to the Immigration Department through official channels. Report suspected fraud to the Fiji Police Force (917).

Vehicle Import or Sale Misrepresentation

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Used vehicle sellers in Fiji may conceal accident history, outstanding customs import duty, unpaid Land Transport Authority (LTA) fines, or serious mechanical defects. Buyers can find themselves unable to register a vehicle they have already paid for.

How to spot it
  • - Seller cannot produce clean LTA registration and inspection papers
  • - Vehicle is priced significantly below market for the apparent age and condition
  • - Seller refuses an independent mechanic inspection
  • - VIN or chassis number is unclear, altered, or inconsistent with registration documents
  • - Seller insists on cash payment with no written sale agreement
What to do: Verify LTA registration status and check for any outstanding fines before purchasing. Use an independent mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. Confirm customs import clearance documents are in order. Report misrepresentation to the FCCC (fccc.gov.fj).

Romance and Money-Transfer Scam

warning

An online relationship quickly turns into requests for money for a medical emergency, visa, or travel. Fiji's geographic isolation means victims can be socially vulnerable. Fiji has also seen deepfake-assisted impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as legitimate Fijian businesses or media personalities.

How to spot it
  • - Emotional urgency — declarations of love within days, followed by a financial crisis
  • - Person refuses or is unable to video call consistently
  • - Payment requested via M-PAiSA, Western Union, or cryptocurrency
  • - Repeated crises each time the previous payment is made
  • - Social media profile is new, sparse, or uses stock photographs
What to do: Do not send money to anyone you have not met in person. Reverse-image-search their photos. Report to the Fiji Police Force (917) and to the Consumer Council of Fiji (155).

Reporting

Where to report: Fiji Police Force — emergency: 917; website: police.gov.fj. Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) — consumer fraud, overcharging, misleading advertising: fccc.gov.fj. Consumer Council of Fiji — scam complaints and consumer advice: consumersfiji.org, free National Consumer Helpline 155. Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) — unlicensed financial services, investment fraud: rbf.gov.fj; confidential disclosures: confidentialdisclosure@rbf.gov.fj. Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) — financial crimes and money laundering: fijifiu.gov.fj.

Consumer helpline: Consumer Council of Fiji: free National Consumer Helpline 155 or complaints@consumersfiji.org (free). FCCC: fccc.gov.fj (free). Reserve Bank of Fiji confidential disclosure: confidentialdisclosure@rbf.gov.fj (free). Emergency: 917.