Hoteliers told of Fraud infestation

Tourism stakeholders urged to keep an eye on suspicious behaviour

The Association of Banks in Fiji (ABIF) is reaching out to more tourism stakeholders to create awareness on fraudulent activities. The Association has been working with various national security agencies to curb cyber crime since 2015. Tourism organisations from the Western Division including Mamanuca and Yasawas were at the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort, Denarau yesterday. HFC Bank credit cards implementation project officer Apapuki Kurusiga said: “Fraud awareness happens all over the world; globally this is an infestation. This is something everybody has to combat, not only the banks and fraud has actually gone to that extent that it is actually humongous globally.”

He said Fiji started creating public awareness on the issue in 2015 when a local record showed that banks and their stakeholders needed to take the issue seriously. Mr Kurusiga said the increase of fraudulent activities has major impacts but banks are preparing to make their platforms safer.

Mr Kurusiga said the Association needs to get everybody on board.

Mana Island Resort and Spa Fiji General manager Patrick Wong said: “This particular anti-fraud presentation is to safeguard the industry. “We get a lot of movements in the hospitality industry with people coming in and going out. We need awareness, to be created especially amongst our employees.”

A similar event is scheduled at the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort on the Coral Coast today.