Niël Terblanché
In a disturbing turn of events, scammers have resorted to impersonating officials from the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs (MODVA) in an attempt to extract personal bank account information from Veterans of the National Liberation Struggle.
Colonel Petrus Shilumbu, the head of MODVA’s public relations division in a statement said this new and alarming trend has raised concerns among authorities, prompting him to issue a call to struggle veterans to be cautious.
According to the colonel, the Ministry recently received credible information regarding individuals falsely representing themselves as MODVA officials.
“These imposters approach war veterans, requesting their personal bank account details under the guise of facilitating pending Individual Veterans Projects,” he said.
Colonel Shilumbu issued a strong caution to war veterans, emphasizing that under no circumstances should they provide their personal bank account information to anyone claiming to be affiliated with MODVA.
“Instead of providing such information over a phone line, all official information required by the Ministry should be submitted exclusively at the MODVA’s fourteen regional offices located across the country,” he stressed.
He reminded Veterans of the National Liberation Struggle to only disclose their personal information when requested by the MODVA’s regional offices.
Colonel Shilumbe assured veterans that the current process for project payouts would remain consistent with the initial communication provided at the inception of the cash payment program.
He requested veterans to be vigilant and added that if they are approached by individuals claiming to be an official from MODVA and soliciting personal bank account details, they are urged to promptly report such individuals to the nearest police station.
The colonel stressed the importance of caution and verification when dealing with personal information, especially in matters as sensitive as veterans’ benefits. He added that the MODVA is committed to safeguarding the interests and security of the Veterans of the National Liberation Struggle and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure their well-being.
“It is crucial that veterans remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and rely only on official channels for their interactions with the Ministry to protect themselves and their fellow veterans from potential harm,” he reiterated.
