Suva, Fiji – 6-10 October 2025 – Fiji’s second National Scams Awareness Week (NSAW) addressed the rising threat of digital scams, with participation from government leaders, civil society, and international partners.

Hosted by the Consumer Council of Fiji, NSAW 2025 builds on the previous year’s success, with the theme “Digital Smarts for a Scam-Free Fiji.” The initiative aims to enhance digital literacy and foster collaboration to create a scam-resilient Pacific.

In his address, the Director for Programmes and Initiatives from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Mr Zarak Khan, commended Fiji’s leadership in digital safety, highlighting that scams represent a regional and global threat that requires collective action. “Initiatives like this awareness week set a strong example for the Pacific,” he noted, “They remind us that scams require collective action.”

He also emphasised the role of PIFS in coordinating the implementation of the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap, which helps member countries establish secure digital trade ecosystems, particularly through Measure 5.1.3 aimed at combating the misuse of financial technologies. He mentioned PIFS initiatives like E-Biz Plus, which empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to navigate online selling while avoiding fraud.

There are additional awareness and training programs in the region, such as Saver Global’s SaverLearning platform offering a free awareness course in Cybersecurity. Developed in partnership with the Consumer Council of Fiji and Vodafone Fiji, the course equips communities and individuals with the knowledge and skills to stay safe online. The course is engaging and interactive, making it accessible for all literacy levels and built specifically to help those most vulnerable to fraud and online scams. Accompanied by the Safe Surfing course, the two courses help learners to identify, avoid and respond to digital threats such as phishing, scams and Malware. Boosting financial and digital literacy at the same time, the courses are available directly through the app store or through Vodafone M-PAiSA. CEO Jon Capal has expressed plans to extend this support: “We look forward to supporting not just Fiji but also the wider Pasifika communities across the region in building stronger cybersecurity awareness and resilience.”

The week was officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, MSMEs and Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, who declared scams a national security threat. “Scams are already in our inboxes, our phones, and our communities. We must act decisively together to make Fiji a scam-free nation,” he said.

Key announcements included:

• Development of Fiji’s first National Anti-Scam Roadmap.
• Amendments to the Online Safety Act and Cybercrime Act.
• A new national scam reporting and analytics platform set for launch in early 2026.
• Progress toward a Data Protection Act.
• Fiji’s upcoming accession to the UN Convention against Cybercrime.

Supported by the Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP) and various development partners, NSAW 2025 exemplifies proactive regional collaboration in tackling the evolving challenges of digital scams.