EIF warns of investment scam

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK

The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) has warned against an investment scam which is circulating on the social media platform Telegram.

According to the EIF, the scammer asks for an investment of N$1 000 and promises to pay back N$5 000 within three months.

A link to the EIF website is shared to persuade victims that the investment is legitimate, it says.

The Fund has opened a criminal case and urges the public to come forward with information. Those who have been scammed are urged to report the matter to the police.

False pretences

The EIF says there is a video circulating on social media, in which the scammer, going by the name of Helen Nicol, uses the Fund’s information to lure her victims to invest money with her.

“The video further contains a video clip of an investor who got their money out from this alleged investment. The video then provides a link that potential investors can use to check the company information.”

The link leads to the website of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia.

“The conduct by the scammer is putting the EIF’s name into disrepute, as it affects the confidence of all our stakeholders and goes against the gains that the EIF has made since its inception.”

It emphasised that the EIF is in no way involved in soliciting investments from the public.

The EIF further stressed that none of its employees are mandated to take money from the public.

“The EIF condemns in the strongest language those who are using its name to scam people of their money.”

The EIF urged the public to be on the lookout for these types of scams and urged them to contact the EIF offices for information on projects and programmes managed by the Fund.