MCIL warns of Fraudulent Online Platforms

By Jeannie Penehuro/

Apia, SAMOA – 05 March 2026: The Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Labour has issued a stern alert to the public on the increasing distribution of counterfeit documents online which were not issued by the Ministry.

In a statement, MCIL is warning the public about certain online digital platforms being used to spread fraudulent paperwork falsely claiming to be authorized by the Ministry.

The warning specifically targets Facebook pages named ‘Benita FX Trading’ and ‘Benita Global,’ which are allegedly operating on behalf of a company called Bitwise FX.

These pages are sharing forged documents, including a Business Name Registration Certificate and a Foreign Investment Certificate. MCIL warns these documents are counterfeit.

The Ministry clarifies that these documents are entirely illegitimate and have not been issued or endorsed by any Samoan government authority.

“They should not be trusted or used for any official or legal purpose, as doing so may result in serious consequences,” said the MCIL statement.

“Please be advised that any documents of this nature circulating online are fake,” the Ministry emphasized.

“We strongly urge the public to verify the authenticity of any official documents through proper channels before relying on them.”

The advisory highlights the increasing sophistication of digital scams and urges citizens to exercise caution when dealing with online sources. It also calls on the public to report any suspicious activity or documents to authorities to help prevent further fraud.

The Ministry assured that it is actively investigating these scams and is committed to safeguarding the public from deception. It encourages individuals and businesses to stay vigilant, verify official communications, and refrain from sharing or acting upon unverified materials.