Renthia Kaimbi
The likeness of former first lady Monica Geingos, finance minister Ericah Shafudah, and President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah are being used in scams involving deepfakes and fake social media accounts.
Victims report receiving calls and messages from fraudsters posing as these leaders, including one case where a live WhatsApp video call used Geingos’ face to trick someone into handing over money.
NBC TV presenter Nina Katangana has also been targeted.
Geingos said her office receives desperate messages from victims who have lost money. She has repeatedly distanced herself from fake accounts and numbers used to promote fraudulent forex schemes.
“Over the past year, these scams have become more sophisticated and damaging, with criminals now using artificial intelligence to mimic my voice and likeness, making victims believe they are engaging with me personally,” she said.
Despite her official accounts being verified and her public statements that she never solicits money, Geingos said more people are falling victim.
“This is deeply distressing, as I value the trust people place in me and feel personally affected when that trust is exploited,” she told Windhoek Observer.
She urged the public not to engage with unverified accounts, to never send money in response to social media financial requests, and to report such cases to the police.
“As these fraudsters will not stop, it is important for the public to treat financial requests emanating from social media with extreme caution, as the digital age comes with great risk,” she warned.
Shafudah has also had to publicly distance herself from a fake Facebook account used for financial gain.
Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo condemned the scams.
“Technology should enhance our lives and improve the world, not serve as a weapon for harm. We urge all Namibians to remain vigilant, verify information before sharing, and share their knowledge with others,” he said.
Mbambo said the presidency is committed to quickly debunking fake news about the institution.
“This dedication ensures that only accurate information about the Head of State circulates on social media. Creating a safe online environment is a collective effort that requires our cooperation,” he said.
Earlier this week, the presidency dismissed a post by “Afrocania” as fake after it claimed President Nandi-Ndaitwah had rejected a proposal from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to introduce a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) preventing pregnancy for up to eight years.
A report titled Digital Shadows: Deepfakes Used As Violence Against Women in Journalism and Politics During African Elections noted that such tactics exploit cultural biases and reinforce stereotypes that women are less capable leaders.
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TfGBV) is another growing problem in Namibia.
Nashilongo Gervasius-Nakale, president of the Internet Society Namibia Chapter, said online abuse is as harmful as physical abuse.
“Before you share a meme making fun of someone, [that are] in many cases manipulated to present a person in a compromised stage, sharing images of someone non-consensually, bullying and many other forms of violence, stop and think what if it was you?'” she questioned.
She added that lawmakers should revise the Combating Domestic Violence Act of 2003 to include online abuse as a recognised form of violence.
“Instances have shown how while one partner might not cause physical harm to another, they resort to sharing their intimate videos with the public as a way to harm the other emotionally. Hence the need for our laws to reflect online harm or violence as real violence,” she said, adding that studies show both online and offline violence target women disproportionately.
While high-profile figures like Geingos and Nandi-Ndaitwah face deepfakes and misinformation, support for ordinary victims through legal aid and psychological counselling remains vital.
