The Consumer Watchdog and the Protection Agency is deeply concerned with traders who are allegedly engaged in price gouging and taking advantage of Fijians receiving assistance under the Governments Homes CARE Initiative.

The Consumer Council and the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission have set up a taskforce that will begin investigation into allegations of fraud against traders from tomorrow.

Council chief executive, Premila Kumar, says they are aware of cases where traders have increased the prices of goods and services after the initiative was rolled out.

“So far we have received five complaints on our national consumer help line on home care initiative and one complaint on farm care initiative and people have been raising their concerns because they always intended to buy their products most of the white goods after losing them during floods. So they were keeping their tabs on the prices so when this particular program rolled they went back to those stores and they were surprised that the prices went up.”

Consumers are being warned to remain vigilant when using their Homes CARE initiative funds.