Windhoek
Fraudsters are capitalising on the new-found fame of poverty eradication deputy minister, Reverend Aino Kapewangolo, by circulating an SMS in which she is purportedly asking recipients to send her N$1 000 via electronic banking facility, e-wallet.
The SMS, sent to several recipients earlier this week, says the minister – who was purportedly making an earnest plea for a financial bailout – would pay back the money today (Friday).
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) Pastor Kapewangolo was appointed as deputy to poverty eradication minister Bishop Zephania Kameeta in March.
The SMS, sent from number 081 442 1711, reads: “Hi, can you please e-wallet me N$1000 on this number, just until Friday. It’s me Honourable Reverent Aino Kapewangolo.”
A clearly shaken woman of the cloth said she was at a loss of words as to why anyone would commit fraud using her name.
“I want to say to anyone who receives such an SMS that I did not send it. I don’t know why anyone would do that. It’s criminal,” the deputy minister told New Era.
“I don’t know the number, but I’ve opened a police case against whoever is behind this. The police promised to work with MTC in trying to detect this person,” Kapewangolo, formerly the advisor to then Oshikoto Regional Governor Penda Ya Ndakolo, said.