Palma Woman Loses Rs 90,000 in Facebook Job Scam
A 49-year-old from Palma transferred Rs 90,000 to scammers posing as recruiters on Facebook before realising she had been defrauded.
A 49-year-old woman from Palma, a residential area in the north of Mauritius, lost Rs 90,000 to online scammers after responding to a fake job advertisement posted on Facebook, according to a report by ION News.
On 19 October, the woman spotted what appeared to be a promising job offer on her Facebook feed. She contacted the people behind the post through Facebook Messenger, and they quickly asked her to pay administrative fees to process her application file.
Trusting that the opportunity was genuine, she made several successive bank transfers to an account provided by the fraudsters. It was only the following day, when the so-called recruiters continued demanding more cash without producing any employment contract or formal documentation, that she realised she had fallen into a trap.
The total amount lost came to Rs 90,000. The victim then travelled to the Quatre-Bornes police station, located in the west of Mauritius, to file a formal complaint. An investigation has since been opened.
This case is a reminder of a well-documented scam pattern that has become increasingly common on social media platforms across Mauritius. Fraudsters create convincing job listings, often mimicking legitimate companies, and then contact applicants privately to request upfront payments under the guise of registration fees, background check costs or administrative charges. The payments are made in instalments to build trust gradually, and the scammers disappear once they feel the victim has grown suspicious.
What this means: Anyone in Mauritius who encounters a job offer on social media that asks for money before any contract is signed should treat it as a serious red flag. Legitimate employers do not require applicants to pay fees to secure a position. If you have already transferred money, report the incident immediately to your nearest police station and notify your bank to attempt to block or trace the transfer. The Mauritius Police Force handles cybercrime complaints, and early reporting gives investigators the best chance of recovering funds or identifying suspects.
Source: ION News
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report an online scam or fraud in Mauritius?β
You can report online fraud at any police station in Mauritius. The victim in this case filed her complaint at the Quatre-Bornes police station. You should also contact your bank as soon as possible to attempt to block or reverse any transfers made to the scammer's account.
What are the warning signs of a fake job offer on Facebook in Mauritius?β
Key red flags include recruiters who contact you only through Facebook Messenger, requests for upfront payment labelled as administrative or registration fees, no verifiable company address or registration, and pressure to transfer money before signing any contract. Legitimate employers in Mauritius do not ask job applicants to pay fees.
Can money transferred to scammers in Mauritius be recovered?β
Recovery is not guaranteed, but prompt reporting to the police and your bank improves the chances. The Mauritius Police Force can investigate and trace local bank accounts. If funds were moved quickly or transferred overseas, recovery becomes significantly harder, which is why reporting the same day is strongly advised.
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