Officers of the Namibian Police at Walvis Bay visited the Kuisebmond Old Age Home on Friday to talk to elderly residents about the latest financial scams and crime prevention measures.
According to Erongo police spokesperson chief inspector Ileni Shapumba, the police have noticed a rise in cases in which elderly people are scammed and lose their money.
“The common ones that mostly occur at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay involve callers identifying themselves as employees from the banks, MTC or Telecom Namibia,” Shapumba said.
“They request the last four digit numbers on ATM cards to apparently deposit money that they won from them. Out of not knowing or perhaps desperation, the elders are giving the numbers and losing money.
“These are recent cases in the past few months. We also had similar cases last year. It stopped and then started again,” he said.
Shapumba said there are heartless criminals in Namibia, and it is important to talk to the elderly directly and to close relatives.
The exercise will continue with engagements with elderly residents at other towns.
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