The Land Transport Authority is
yet again warning the public not to deal with people they don’t know after
receiving many complaints from customers who have lost a fortune in malicious
dealings.
In the most recent case, a customer was duped into parting with
$16,000 cash by a person impersonating senior LTA executive, in the hope of
receiving a taxi permit.
The Authority is deeply concerned that despite constant awareness and advice,
people are still entertaining such malicious dealings and end up becoming
victims of con artists.
LTA is receiving at least four complaints per week from people who have lost a
fortune in trying to secure public service vehicle permits like Taxi and
Minibus and receive other LTA favours through people impersonating LTA officers.
LTA Chief Executive Officer Mr Naisa Tuinaceva is reminding the public that the
Authority will not accept, process or attend to any request for a PSV permit
application because all PSV permits excluding Rental and Hire are on freeze
since 2011.
“We know many people want a taxi permit
and some gullible people jump at the opportunity when someone offers to get
them one in exchange for cash, but we are requesting people to refrain from
doing so as the PSV permits like Taxi and Minibus are still on freeze,” Mr
Tuinaceva said.
“Also, LTA does not perform any business transaction outside its office
premises. Any transaction fee is to be paid at an official LTA office counter
and the customer is requested to demand for receipts.”
The impersonators usually communicate with people on the phone who are then
told to either deposit the money in a bank account or send it through money
transfer services. In most cases, the unsuspecting customers only discover that
they have been deceived when they visit the LTA office to collect the permit.
The public is urged to follow the legal procedures when applying for any LTA
services, and to immediately report to the Police or FICAC anyone suspected of
impersonating LTA officers.
So far, the Authority has referred more than 30 cases of impersonation to the
police.
Impersonation is a crime and those caught will be dealt with harshly under the
laws of Fiji.