Namibia’s former First Lady, Monica Geingos, has issued a public warning about fraudsters using her name and likeness to scam unsuspecting victims on social media.
In a video message released on Thursday, Mrs. Geingos addressed the growing issue, revealing that manipulated clips are circulating online, falsely showing her endorsing a foreign exchange (forex) investment scheme. Her team has been raising awareness about the scams for nearly two years, but the problem has escalated significantly in recent months.
“There are numerous fake accounts across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X, all using my name, profile image, and other details to deceive people,” said the lawyer and businesswoman. “Recently, someone even received a video call that appeared to be from me, trying to convince them to invest in a dubious forex scheme. Let me be clear: I am not involved in forex or any money-related schemes on social media.”
The fraudulent schemes have targeted many victims, including a woman who lost her retirement savings, according to Mavis Elias, Mrs. Geingos’ executive assistant. Elias noted that the scams have grown more sophisticated, with some using genuine footage of Mrs. Geingos speaking, dubbed with a manipulated voice to make it appear authentic.
“The most vulnerable are those swayed by what they see online,” Elias explained. “We’ve been inundated with messages from defrauded victims, some losing significant amounts of money. This escalation is deeply distressing.”
The scammers have used Namibian bank account details and phone numbers, heightening the local impact. Despite ongoing efforts to report and shut down the fake accounts, new ones continue to emerge.
Mrs. Geingos urged the public to avoid engaging with these fraudulent accounts and report them immediately. “These scams are a widespread threat, not only in Africa but internationally,” said Craig Pedersen, a cybersecurity expert with South Africa’s TCGForensics.
Mrs. Geingos’ late husband, Hage Geingob, served as Namibia’s president from 2015 until his passing last year. This marks the first time she has personally appealed to the public, reflecting the urgent need to combat the rising tide of scams tarnishing her name.
