Windhoek
EBank this week warned the public to be aware of several banking and financial sector scams currently taking place.
According to bank officials, fraudsters call or SMS members of the public claiming to offer services or sell goods requiring that a deposit first be paid into an EBank account. Once the deposit is made, these fraudsters disappear without providing the goods or services promised.
“We have experienced a few cases where members of the public are tricked into handing over their hard-earned money to these con-artists,” said Jerry Elago, EBank’s Public Liaison Officer. “This is a concerning trend and we would like to warn all members of the public to be on the look-out for such scams and to always be vigilant when engaging in any such transactions”, he said.
One such scam involves the sale of goods, such as cars or cattle, advertised in local newspapers and on social media platforms. On calling the number advertised, the potential buyer is asked to deposit an amount into a specified EBank account using a legitimate 8-digit EBank ECode at a participating EBank retailer.
Once deposited, the money is immediately transferred into the ‘seller’s’ account, whereupon the fraudster disappears without delivering the promised goods or services.
“We’ve also experienced a number of cases regarding bail money payments for trial awaiting prisoners. Family members are notified that a relative is in jail and asked to pay bail using an EBank ECode provided by the fraudster.
Upon making the deposit, the money disappears and no bail is settled or granted,” explained Elago. “Sometimes the relative is not even in jail but the family is deceived into believing so.”
More recently, scams have focused on individuals, who have lost their loved ones and placed an advert in the local newspapers for a tombstone unveiling or a death or funeral announcement. Once again the fraudsters will call the family and introduce themselves as employees of a reputable financial institution, bank or insurance company. They request that a deposit be made into an EBank account in order for a funeral policy, or death benefit claim in the name of the deceased, to be paid out.
EBank has urged its clients and the general public to be vigilant at all times, specifically warning the public not to deposit money into any bank account in return for goods, without knowing the identity of the seller and personally seeing the goods.
“Be cautious in all cases where you are requested to deposit funds using an ECode supplied by someone unknown to you.If you have been called by someone claiming to be from a bank or insurance company, first call that company and check the legitimacy of that policy or benefit, as well as the credentials of the person who called you,” Elago cautioned .