Scam in Air Conditioner Sales: 24-Year-Old Fraheen Jootun Betrayed by Bank Transfers

A resident of Dagotière has been arrested for an online scam involving fake air conditioners sold at discounted prices. Seven victims have been identified, suffering a total loss of Rs 40,825.

An online scam surrounding the sale of discounted air conditioners led to the arrest of a Dagotière resident on Tuesday by the police. Bibi Fraheen Jootun, 24 years old, is accused of receiving payments through bank transfers in at least seven recorded cases, totaling Rs 40,825 in damages.

For some time, an advertisement video had been circulating on social media, luring customers eager to purchase air conditioners. The pseudo-seller "Ti prix electro-meubles" had posted an enticing promotion on its TikTok page: "Buy one get one free." Purchasing a Hisense air conditioner with a capacity of 24,000 BTU allowed customers to receive a second unit with a power of 12,000 BTU as a gift. Many people attempted to score good deals to enjoy better comfort during this period of persistent heat.

On January 16, Le Défi Quotidien exposed and denounced this scam in its columns, naming Bibi Fraheen Jootun as a recipient of the bank transfers. Meanwhile, several police stations in the North and East of the island, including those in Terre-Rouge, Triolet, Trou-aux-Biches, and Flacq, had recorded complaints targeting the young woman.

Bibi Fraheen Jootun is also accused of having received payments for the sale of sanitary equipment, table sets, and chairs, among other items. Following seven recorded cases of fraud and obtaining bank statements indicating multiple money transfers to Fraheen Jootun's account, the Divisional Crime Intelligence Unit's squad in the North (DCIU) was able to locate the suspect on Tuesday.

As a result, this Dagotière resident was placed under arrest and provisionally charged with fraud. She is currently held in police custody. The police are actively searching for her accomplice.