Scammers using my face to con people, warns Namibia's ex-first lady

Monica Geingos, the former first lady of Namibia, has recently taken to social media to alert the public about a troubling issue: scammers are using her likeness and name to deceive unsuspecting individuals. In a heartfelt video message, she appears with a warm smile, addressing the alarming rise in fraudulent activities that have been targeting citizens. These scams involve manipulated video clips that falsely portray her as promoting a foreign exchange investment scheme, which has led to numerous victims, including a woman who lost her entire retirement savings. This issue has been a concern for Monica and her team for nearly two years, but the situation has escalated significantly in recent months, prompting her to make a personal appeal to the public. Her husband, Hage Geingob, served as Namibia's president until his passing last year, and Monica's message comes at a time when the volume of fake messages has reached an unprecedented level. In her video, she emphasizes the prevalence of fake accounts on popular social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X, which mimic her profile and use similar usernames. These accounts have been reaching out to people directly, further complicating the situation. 'Recently, someone received a video call that appeared to be from me, trying to convince them to invest in a bizarre forex scheme,' she explained. 'I want to make it clear that I am not involved in forex trading, nor am I soliciting money or offering loans online. ' Monica urges the public to refrain from engaging with these fraudulent accounts and to report them immediately. The scammers have been using authentic footage of her speeches, but they have altered the audio to make it sound like her voice. They provide bank account details and phone numbers that are all based in Namibia, making the scams seem more legitimate. Mavis Elias, who served as Monica's executive assistant, highlighted that those most vulnerable to these scams are often influenced by what they see online. Her office has been inundated with messages from individuals who have fallen victim to these schemes, with some cases involving substantial financial losses. 'It is concerning that this issue has worsened over the past few months,' Mavis stated. 'The increasing number of fake accounts means more people are at risk of losing their hard-earned money. ' These types of scams have become a widespread threat not only in Africa but also on a global scale. Craig Pedersen, a cyber-security expert from South Africa, noted that while initial reports suggested these scams originated in South Africa, they have now spread internationally. Monica Geingos is not the only high-profile individual whose image has been manipulated for fraudulent purposes. In South Africa, prominent figures such as wealthy businessmen Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe, as well as President Cyril Ramaphosa, have also been victims of similar schemes. 'Scammers often exploit the images of celebrities to instill a false sense of trust in their victims, making them less likely to question the legitimacy of the offers,' Craig explained. Dr. Thembekile Olivia Mayayise, an expert in this field at Wits University in South Africa, echoed these sentiments, stating that she has encountered numerous videos online that misuse the likeness of celebrities. She advises the public to exercise caution when it comes to investments and to scrutinize any suspicious communications they receive, particularly from well-known figures. 'Ultimately, consumers need to adopt a more skeptical attitude towards celebrity endorsements, especially regarding investment opportunities,' Craig concluded.