WINDHOEK – The Windhoek City Police has warned the public to shy away from entrusting people they do not know with money for dubious transactions.
This warning culminates from the arrest last Friday of a man in his early 30s for theft under false pretences.
The culprit struck deals with several people who failed to secure placement at local schools for their kids, either because they obtained few marks or did not apply on time, said Constable Fabian Amukwelele from the City Police. An upfront payment, which differed, usually N$2 000 and more is what the culprit asked his victim in order to secure school placements. Ten victims who fell prey to the scam were robbed of about N$38 000 in total.
“The recent arrest suggests people like taking short cuts and doing shady deals which not only contravene the law but rob them of their hard-earned money. Cutting corners in life is often followed by regrets because what’s done in the dark often never materialises,” said the police constable.
“The public should be wary of advertising scams that are on the rise, usually in the form of giving money either to secure a scholarship or employment. The public is further urged to always verify information whenever they enter into deals with people they know little about, ask for identification cards and have eyewitness,” Amukwelele added.
Last month a woman was apprehended for defrauding another woman who was looking for accommodation.
The victim posted an advertisement on the social media site Facebook looking for a room to rent. On her post she included her contact number. An active Facebook user, a male who claimed to be a real estate agent wasted no time and called the woman on the number indicated on her post.
He told the woman to go to Ara Bar where he would give her directions to the property in Dorado Park, where there is a room for rent.
Upon arrival at the property, the agent told the woman the owner of the house, a lecturer at Unam, was not available, therefore he did not have the key to the room, however she could view the room through the window. Later that day the woman called the agent telling him that she was interested in the room. The agent told her that since he was busy he would send his colleague to bring her the room key. A deposit of N$1 000 was made with the woman who claimed to be a colleague of the male agent.
As it turned out, it was just another scam. The key could not open the room, and the owner of the house was not even aware of the fraud. Fortunately the police managed to arrest the suspect.
By Tunomukwathi Asino