MTC says it cannot link SIM cards to bank accounts amid rising scam complaints

MTC’s corporate affairs manager John Ekongo says the mobile operator runs on systems that are entirely separate from those of commercial banks, making it impossible for the company to access, verify or monitor customers’ banking information.

“MTC’s ecosystem does not collaborate with that of the banks. We are completely different systems,” Ekongo explained yesterday in an interview with Namibian Sun.

He added that the company cannot link SIM cards to customers’ bank accounts or track financial transactions outside its own services.

The explanation comes after a woman, who asked not to be named, told Namibian Sun she lost N$17 000 in a scam that she claimed exploited confusion about the role of mobile networks and banks.

She said she was contacted by people claiming she had won N$10 000 in a competition and was asked to share her banking details to “process the payout”. She later discovered that her account had been emptied.

Despite being advised to report the matter to the police, the woman said she chose not to do so, citing mistrust of law enforcement and fears that some officers may be complicit in similar schemes.

Her experience reflects a growing number of similar complaints received by Namibian Sun in recent months. The reports frequently cite fraudsters posing as representatives of mobile promotions, competitions or financial service providers and asking victims for their banking details under false pretences.

Follow the correct channels

Ekongo said most scams involve electronic wallets or electronic funds transfers, which fall outside MTC’s operational mandate.

“MTC is not a law enforcement agency and cannot investigate beyond its mandate,” he explained, adding that "there is often an unreasonable expectation that MTC should act as an investigative entity."

However, he confirmed that MTC cooperates with law enforcement agencies and provides subscriber information when formally requested and as prescribed by law.

SIM cards and prison-linked scams

Persistent questions remain about how fraudsters, including those allegedly operating from within correctional facilities, continue to use registered SIM cards.

Ekongo explained that SIM registration relies on identity documents presented at the point of registration, but mobile operators have no system to independently verify those documents with the home affairs ministry.

“Home affairs does not have a system whereby third parties can verify documentation,” he pointed out.

He acknowledged that SIM cards, like other contraband, are often smuggled into prisons.

He pointed to the growing use of so-called “mule accounts”, where individuals – often young people – are encouraged to register SIM cards or open bank accounts in their own names and hand them over to fraudsters.

“These accounts are notoriously difficult to detect because genuine customer details are used,” Ekongo noted.

He underlined that once fraudulent activity is detected or reported, affected numbers are immediately suspended.

Education over enforcement

Ekongo said MTC maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any internal involvement in SIM-related crimes and has strengthened its information security systems to detect irregularities.

The company has also rolled out public education initiatives, including its Scamology campaign, aimed at helping customers recognise and avoid fraud.

“Our staff are also trained to detect potential mule accounts,” he said.

However, Ekongo reiterated that victims must report cases to the Namibian Police to enable investigations and coordination between institutions, despite growing public scepticism.

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