Niël Terblanché
The Namibian Police in the Erongo region issued a stern warning to residents of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund not to divulge their banking details when called by people identifying themselves as police officers.
Chief Inspector Ileni Shapumba, the head of the police’s community affairs division in the region, said that a yet unknown person has been calling coastal residents randomly since Wednesday.
“A man who introduced himself as Chief Inspector Shapumba from Walvis Bay called complainants and invited them to the Walvis Bay police station to address a problem with their bank accounts,” he said.
The real Chief Inspector Shapumba urged residents to be alert and to report suspicious calls to the real police.
“The public is also advised not to disclose their banking details when requested to do so but to verify the authenticity of such calls with their banks,” he said.
In this regard all the commercial banks as well as the central bank regularly repeat warnings to help customers protect themselves from scammers attempting to obtain personal details and passwords via mobile phones. Common advisories include:
Do Not Share Personal Information: Banks stress that they will never request sensitive information such as PINs, passwords, or One-Time Pins (OTPs) over the phone, email, or SMS. Customers are advised to avoid disclosing their banking details to anyone, even if the request appears to come from the bank.
Be Cautious of Unsolicited Communications: Scammers may pose as bank employees or trusted companies, even police officers, when contacting individuals unexpectedly to solicit personal information. Customers should be wary of such unsolicited calls or messages and verify the authenticity of the communication through official bank channels.
Recognize Phishing, Smishing, and Vishing Attempts: These are fraudulent tactics where scammers use emails (phishing), text messages (smishing), or phone calls (vishing) to deceive individuals into revealing confidential information. Banks advise customers to stay alert and not to respond to these fraudulent communications.
Avoid Clicking on Suspicious Links or Downloading Unverified Apps: Fraudsters may send messages containing links or prompt individuals to download applications that can compromise personal data. Customers are advised to only download apps from official app stores and to avoid clicking on links from unknown sources.
Monitor Bank Accounts Regularly: Regularly reviewing bank statements and transaction alerts can help detect unauthorized activities promptly. If any suspicious activity is observed, customers should contact their bank immediately.
Be Aware of SIM Swap Scams: In this scam, fraudsters perform a SIM swap to gain control of a customer’s phone number, allowing them to intercept banking notifications and OTPs. If a customer notices a sudden loss of mobile signal or suspects a SIM swap, they should contact their bank promptly.
