IVINS, Utah — Matthew Liutai Tanuvasa, 32, of Ivins, Utah, was arrested on March 31 after allegedly taking over $4,400 for a fake vacation rental in Hau’ula, Hawaii. Tanuvasa is facing charges of theft by deception after a Washington City Police investigation uncovered his fraudulent activities.
The victim, who initially paid $3,600 for the rental, was also charged extra fees, bringing the total payment to $4,430. The rental turned out to be a private residence, not a vacation property. Investigators linked the money to Tanuvasa’s family members, who allegedly received the funds.
In addition to the rental, the victim had also purchased $1,260 worth of tickets for an event at the Polynesian Cultural Center, which turned out to be another scam. After further investigation, authorities found that Tanuvasa had been previously involved in other fraudulent activities, including a check fraud scheme in St. George.
Upon his arrest, Tanuvasa admitted to being dishonest during the rental transaction. Despite claiming he would refund the victim, the money was never returned. He was booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility and faces a felony charge of theft by deception.
This arrest adds to Tanuvasa’s growing criminal record, including his involvement in a fraud case from 2021. Investigators recommend that consumers be cautious when booking vacation rentals and use trusted platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo to avoid scams.
