Eleven traders have been charged by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission for abusing the government’s Homes CARE initiative.

Chief Executive, Joel Abraham says forty-three traders were under investigation for un-ethical practices – whereby, their books were audited by the Commission.

Abraham says of these, eleven traders were found in breach of the FCCC Act 2010.

He adds the purpose of the Homes CARE initiative is to assist those affected by Tropical Cyclones Josie and Keni, however, some opportunists have been exploiting the vulnerable.

“We have spent a lot of time in educating traders in what they can and can’t do – so those traders who think they can get away with this – my message is simple there is no getting away from the law – we will catch you one day.”

Abraham says these traders are becoming smarter with their tactics.

“Once we do an investigation in a particular region and we’ve moved out – the traders in that particular region are coming up with these new things. There is this one trader in Ba who is trying to increase the price charge for those traders coming with the card.”

The FCCC has commenced its third phase of investigation in the Northern Division.