JUST IN: Police impersonators on the prowl
Scam alert
The Namibian police in the Erongo Region have received numerous reports of callers identifying themselves as police officers and demanding money from the public.
Over the past weekend, a caller who identified himself as deputy commissioner Keelu from national headquarters in Walvis Bay, randomly called people, including business persons, stating that he was investigating cases involving them.
There was also a person calling businesses and individuals claiming to collect payments for outstanding warrants of arrest and traffic tickets. This person identified himself as a police officer from Nampol and the City Police.
Other reports also surfaced of persons posing as police officers investigating cases and demanding payment from people as to avoid arrests.
“We distance ourselves from these individuals. Nampol will not call any person, referring to an outstanding warrant of arrest and demand any payment by e-wallet or any forms of online transactions," cautioned the unit commander for community service in the Erongo Region, inspector Ileni Shapumba.
He explained that legitimately, the police or any other law enforcement institution would demand that a person be arrested or, for the purpose of investigation, report to a respective police station.
"In the event that such person is unable or unwilling, police officers will trace him or her at his/her given location. Police officers are required to identify themselves by means of appointment certificates and act professionally at all times. We thus urge the public to be alert at all times and to report any suspicious callers at the local police stations."
Shapumba advised the public to stop and avoid paying money in order to avoid getting arrested.
"You should guard against revealing the last four digit numbers on your ATM card. Do not pay for any parcel at the airport that you have not seen and remember that the police don’t charge fees when investigating cases of fraud."
Over the past weekend, a caller who identified himself as deputy commissioner Keelu from national headquarters in Walvis Bay, randomly called people, including business persons, stating that he was investigating cases involving them.
There was also a person calling businesses and individuals claiming to collect payments for outstanding warrants of arrest and traffic tickets. This person identified himself as a police officer from Nampol and the City Police.
Other reports also surfaced of persons posing as police officers investigating cases and demanding payment from people as to avoid arrests.
“We distance ourselves from these individuals. Nampol will not call any person, referring to an outstanding warrant of arrest and demand any payment by e-wallet or any forms of online transactions," cautioned the unit commander for community service in the Erongo Region, inspector Ileni Shapumba.
He explained that legitimately, the police or any other law enforcement institution would demand that a person be arrested or, for the purpose of investigation, report to a respective police station.
"In the event that such person is unable or unwilling, police officers will trace him or her at his/her given location. Police officers are required to identify themselves by means of appointment certificates and act professionally at all times. We thus urge the public to be alert at all times and to report any suspicious callers at the local police stations."
Shapumba advised the public to stop and avoid paying money in order to avoid getting arrested.
"You should guard against revealing the last four digit numbers on your ATM card. Do not pay for any parcel at the airport that you have not seen and remember that the police don’t charge fees when investigating cases of fraud."
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Namibian Sun
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