Walvis Bay
Erongo community policing affairs officer Sergeant Ileni Shapumba has cautioned coastal women to be on alert as criminals are using women as bait to carry out fraudulent activities in the region.
Shapumba made the remarks after a woman was arrested for allegedly scamming about 52 people at Walvis Bay. Shapumba said the suspect, who was expected to appear in court yesterday, allegedly charged N$200 per person in return for a job offer at local fishing companies.
It is suspected the woman had pocketed at least N$10 000 from desperate jobseekers at the coast and could have cashed in more if her operations were not detected. Her operations – and those of the people she is suspected to be aiding – allegedly caught up with them when they did not deliver the jobs they had promised their victims. People became impatient and suspicious. Some demanded their money back. Others came to the police station and reported the woman.
When the police raided her house in town they found trade union registration forms of the Namibian Fishermen and Industries and Fishermen Workers Union at her residence. These documents contain detailed information of the people she scammed.
According to Shapumba, during interrogation the woman told the police the money belonged to her, as the people already belonged to the union. Shapumba believes the suspect is part of an organised crime group that is preying on desperate jobseekers.
“We’ve detected that women are being used as bait by criminals, as those targeted by such crimes will easily trust them. However, Namibians should know that jobs are not for sale. Anyone that needs payment before you can get employment is contravening the law. You, as an individual, should be alert at all times and guard against such activities,” he said.
New Era was informed yesterday afternoon that the suspect did not yet appear in court and that she had returned some of the money to the victims of the serial job scam.