Allexer Namundjembo
The Ohangwena regional governor Kadiva Hamutumwa has revealed that she was recently defrauded through an eWallet scam.
Speaking during a community engagement at Endola on Thursday, Hamutumwa said she was contacted by someone claiming to be a student stranded in Namibia after attending their father’s funeral.
The individual said they were studying at Cavendish University in Zambia and needed money to return.
“The person texted me saying they came to Namibia for the father’s funeral, and the family was not willing to assist with funds for going back,” Hamutumwa said.
“At first, I ignored the messages, but the person kept calling. They later told me they needed N$900 and even shared a location pin, which showed they were in a village. My heart moved, and I decided to assist,” she narrated.
Hamutumwa sent N$950 via eWallet and the scammer continued sending live location updates, which appeared to show their journey back to Zambia, making the story seem real.
A day later, another scammer approached her with a slightly different story.
“This one claimed to be going to NIMT and needed N$950 for tools. They also sent a location. That’s when I remembered the first incident and realised it was a scam. I told them I could not help,” she said.
Hamutumwa said she shared her experience to raise awareness and urged young people to use opportunities like the Youth Fund Initiative rather than resorting to dishonest means.
“Everyone just wants a cuca shop in their application descriptions. We need to talk to the youth, and my office is open to assist with initiatives that can change their lives,” she stressed.
Her ordeal is part of a wider trend of scams targeting public figures.
In June 2024, speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was defrauded of N$159 000 after a scammer impersonating a bank official tricked her into disclosing her account password.
In December of the same year, former minister of sport, youth and national service Agnes Tjongarero lost N$711 200 of her personal savings in a scheme involving fake ministry forms and images. Her personal assistant also lost N$18 500.
Around the same time, former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein confirmed he too fell victim to bank fraud, saying the stolen amount ran into the thousands.
Former First Lady Monica Geingos has been targeted in a different way. Fraudsters created fake accounts on TikTok and Instagram using her image to promote bogus forex investment schemes.
Geingos has repeatedly warned the public after reports emerged that victims lost significant sums of money, including retirement savings, to these scams.
