Beware online car scams
Rather buy cars from registered dealers, the police advise.
MICHAEL KAYUNDE
The police have issued a public alert about online car sale scams aimed at defrauding the public.
“This scam is currently in circulation and the Namibian Police Force is hereby strongly warning members of the public to refrain from making bank transactions to strangers,” a police press statement said yesterday.
Fraudsters apparently advertise cars in newspapers and on social media platforms.
They ask for deposits when prospective buyers contact them, before the buyers are able to inspect the vehicles in person. The fraudsters then pocket the money and disappear.
Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi says these types of scams have been going on since last year.
Kanguatjivi warns people not to hand over money before inspecting any car offered for sale, and advises that such transactions should rather be conducted via registered dealers.
“Depositing money to someone you do not know, for a car you have only seen on the internet, puts you at a higher risk of being scammed,” he says.
In the case of private transactions, prospective buyers are advised to ensure that they have the seller’s personal details.
The latest people to fall victim to this scam are two Oranjemund residents who lost money in two separate incidents last week.
HELICOPTER CRASH
Two people sustained injuries when a helicopter crashed on Môrester Farm in eastern Namibia last week Friday. The crash was only reported to the police on Tuesday.
Yesterday, Nampol said the 27-year-old pilot sustained head injuries while his 29-year-old passenger was slightly injured. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and investigations continue.
The police have issued a public alert about online car sale scams aimed at defrauding the public.
“This scam is currently in circulation and the Namibian Police Force is hereby strongly warning members of the public to refrain from making bank transactions to strangers,” a police press statement said yesterday.
Fraudsters apparently advertise cars in newspapers and on social media platforms.
They ask for deposits when prospective buyers contact them, before the buyers are able to inspect the vehicles in person. The fraudsters then pocket the money and disappear.
Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi says these types of scams have been going on since last year.
Kanguatjivi warns people not to hand over money before inspecting any car offered for sale, and advises that such transactions should rather be conducted via registered dealers.
“Depositing money to someone you do not know, for a car you have only seen on the internet, puts you at a higher risk of being scammed,” he says.
In the case of private transactions, prospective buyers are advised to ensure that they have the seller’s personal details.
The latest people to fall victim to this scam are two Oranjemund residents who lost money in two separate incidents last week.
HELICOPTER CRASH
Two people sustained injuries when a helicopter crashed on Môrester Farm in eastern Namibia last week Friday. The crash was only reported to the police on Tuesday.
Yesterday, Nampol said the 27-year-old pilot sustained head injuries while his 29-year-old passenger was slightly injured. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and investigations continue.
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