Monica Geingos, Namibia’s former First Lady, has issued on January 23 a video message warning the public about fraudsters exploiting her name and likeness to deceive citizens.
Manipulated clips circulating on social media appear to show Geingos endorsing a foreign exchange (forex) investment scheme. Victims, including one woman who lost her retirement savings, have been targeted by these scams, with a significant increase in fake messages over the past two months. This is the first time Geingos has directly addressed the issue, despite her team raising awareness about the fraud for almost two years.
In her video, Geingos explained that scammers had been using her profile picture and similar handles on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X to make it seem like she was endorsing the fraudulent investment opportunities. She clarified that she is not involved in forex trading or social media campaigns soliciting money or loans. She urged the public not to engage with these fake accounts and to report them. The scammers have even gone as far as using genuine footage of Geingos, dubbing it with a voice resembling hers and providing Namibian bank account details and phone numbers.
The fraud has become a widespread issue, with many people falling victim to these scams, particularly those drawn in by the promise of easy money. Mavis Elias, Geingos’ executive assistant, noted that her office has been flooded with reports from people who have lost significant sums of money. The problem has grown internationally, with similar scams targeting high-profile figures such as South African businessmen Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe, as well as President Cyril Ramaphosa. Cybersecurity experts warn that scams like these are a growing threat across Africa and globally, urging people to be more cautious with investments and suspicious communications from well-known figures.