A series of complaints filed with the Itaosy gendarmerie brigade and Ambohimamory police post since July 15 has uncovered a vast fraud scheme targeting agricultural product traders. The suspect operated using the same method repeatedly: posting advertisements on social media, posing as a buyer of rice, coffee, corn, or peanuts, paying only transport fees, setting a date for payment of the remainder, then disappearing and cutting off all contact. The recorded losses are substantial. They include 101 bags of flour valued at 12.8 million ariary, coffee estimated at 12 million, peanuts at 15 million, 60 bags of rice at 5.8 million, cape peas at 42 million, three tonnes of rice at 5 million, 150 tonnes of corn at nearly 67 million, and 477 kilos of corn at 3.4 million. Total damages exceed 163 million ariary. The suspect was arrested on July 15 in Ankadimbahoaka and placed in custody. Transfer to court was scheduled for yesterday, but new complainants continue to come forward, according to reports received. Gustave Mparany