WALVIS BAY – A stolen identity card has turned into a financial nightmare for a Walvis Bay fisherman, who now finds himself burdened with debt and battling to clear his name.

The fisherman, whose identity is known to New Era but withheld due to the financial implications of the fraud, says his ordeal began years ago when he lost his ID during a bus ride between Rundu and Windhoek.

He filed a declaration with the Walvis Bay police to apply for a duplicate identity card.

However, his missing original ID has since been used repeatedly – including to access his bank account and obtain a bank statement that was later used to secure loans from cash loans, as well as open a clothing account.He says the issue is extremely frustrating and that the case he opened in 2017 is still dragging on. “I discovered in 2017 that I was listed with the International Credit Union when I attempted to open an account at Furnmart.” His application was declined after records showed he had opened a clothing account at Foschini in Swakopmund. Due to non-payment, the retailer reported him to the credit bureau. The fraudster reportedly accumulated more than N$8 000 within days of opening the account. “I reported the matter to the police, and no progress has been made to date, but the thieves are still using my ID to secure credit and loans,” he said.

Last month, he says he was hit with two unexpected deductions of N$1 900 and N$4 000. He only discovered the charges when he checked his bank account on 26 November.

“The bank told me that one is a cash loan deduction and the other N$4 000 is some sort of investment. However, I know I did not sign or invest any money anywhere. It seems they used the lost or stolen ID, managed to get a bank statement, and with that the person was assisted by the cash loan,” the fisherman said. He now plans to report the cash loan to Namfisa.The cash loan owner, Brighten Muleke, confirmed to New Era that he indeed lent money to a man who used the fisherman’s details and original bank statement. He also admitted that he did not make a copy of the ID. “Yes, I called the man back to return with his identity card so I could make copies for filing purposes, but he never returned,” Muleke said.

He added that the following day, just before closing time, another man arrived seeking a loan of N$2 000.

“The man’s ID looked legitimate, but the payslip and bank statement looked tampered with. I took the documents and pretended I would lend him the money, but I didn’t. Instead, I went to the police to open a fraud case,” he said. Asked whether he would refund the fisherman, Muleke was evasive. He still has not opened a case against the fraudulent borrower.

Meanwhile, Namfisa spokesperson Victoria Raimond last month indicated that Namibians have the right to report any illegal practices to the regulator for investigation. She also indicated that Namfisa dealt with several complaints related to microlenders. In 2023, they dealt with 122 complaints against micro lenders. According to Namfisa’s 2024 report, they dealt with 122 complaints against micro lenders.  

These complaints ranged from overcharging of interest, illegal deductions, non-payment of refunds, extension of loan periods and the retention of personal documents.