Windhoek:The One Economy Foundation has issued a warning to the public about fraudulent fundraising solicitations occurring ahead of its 11th Annual Fundraising Soiree, which is set for October 1, 2026.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the foundation discovered a fraud incident where a donor's payment meant for the gala was redirected to an unauthorized account. This incident was facilitated by a fraudulent invoice sent from an email impersonating the foundation's chairperson, Monica Geingos.

As the date of the fundraising event nears, the foundation stresses the importance of public vigilance, as fraudsters are continually finding new ways to exploit trust. The foundation acted promptly to suspend the fraudulent account before the full amount could be withdrawn and is collaborating with authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.

The foundation specifically warned against interactions or payments involving certain email addresses, reinforcing that the only legitimate email addresses for the fundraising soiree are [email protected] and [email protected].

Donors, partners, and the public are urged to stay alert and to communicate only through established channels with the director of resource mobilisation, finance director, or executive director. The foundation advises careful verification of email addresses and confirmation of ticket or pledge details before making payments.

The foundation emphasized that anyone uncertain about the authenticity of a communication should reach out directly using the official email addresses. It reassured stakeholders of its commitment to their security and integrity and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the fraudulent activity. The foundation also invited anyone with information about the scam to come forward.