What was claimed
Nadi Airport is selling lost luggage on Facebook for less than five Fiji dollars.
Our verdict
False. The "offer" is a scam.
AAP FACTCHECK - A Facebook page is promoting a fake charity sale targeting Fijians, falsely claiming that Nadi International Airport is selling lost luggage for less than five Fiji Dollars.
It's being shared on Facebook by a page calling itself "Airport Announcement/NAN", referring to Nadi's three-letter International Air Transport Association code.
The post is captioned: "Nadi International Airport is holding its annual unclaimed baggage sale for just FJ$4.61" (about $A3.15).
"Each year, a large number of lost or forgotten suitcases accumulate in storage.
"According to current regulations, the airport is allowed to dispose of luggage that hasn’t been claimed for over 6 months.
"However, once again, they are organizing a charity sale and offering the bags for just FJ$4.61 each."'
The post includes a link to a website for supposedly claiming the deal, but it redirects to a page sharing news about Patriot League, a US collegiate athletic conference.
Users in the comments section of the Facebook post appear to validate the promotion.
"I had heard a lot about lost luggage stores, so I didn't hesitate to order one for myself and received my suitcase today. My husband still can't believe that I paid only FJ$4.61," one reads.
A reverse image search shows two of the photos included in the post come from a 2022 Reddit post about unclaimed baggage at Toronto Pearson Airport.
While the Fiji Airports logo has been edited onto a belt barrier in the foreground of the first image, the Canadian airport's name is still visible on a barrier in the background.
Posters for Canadian airlines Air Transat, Swoop and Flair can also be seen on the back wall.
Using a reverse image search, AAP FactCheck discovered the third picture was taken by AP photographer Jeff Roberson in December 2022, capturing lost luggage at St Louis Lambert International Airport in the US.
Other signs that the offer is a scam include that the Facebook page was created just a couple of days before the post was made, and the account has no other posts.
Fiji Airports issued a statement declaring the promotion is fake.
"We can confirm that no such sales are being held or authorized by Fiji Airports.
"These posts or messages are part of a scam, and we urge everyone to remain cautious and not to engage with or share them.
"Please do not respond, click any links, or share your personal information."
AAP FactCheck has previously debunked a similar scam about Wellington International Airport in New Zealand.
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM ON FACEBOOK - RED FLAGS
Exercise caution if a Facebook post includes several of these features:
- An urgent appeal to widely share the post
- No contact details provided
- Requests for users to send direct or private messages
- Vague information about the alleged giveaway/offer
- Account posting the content is newly created, lacks a profile picture, has few friends or is not based in the area concerned
- Disabled comments, which prevent warnings or clarifications from other users.
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