Oshikoto: The Oshikoto Regional Council has raised alarms over a surge in fraudulent activities involving scammers impersonating council employees to solicit payments for procurement contracts.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Petrus Nehale, the council’s public relations officer, disclosed in an interview that these scammers are deceiving bidders, service providers, and the general public by asking them to submit quotations and make payments to secure bid awards. Nehale highlighted that the fraudsters have even forged the official stamps of the Regional Council to lend credibility to their deceitful operations.

Nehale emphasized that the regional council maintains strict ethical standards and integrity in its public procurement processes. He clarified that the council does not engage in negotiations with bidders over procurement contract awards, nor does it request individual bidders to submit quotations or make payments to secure bid awards. All bid advertisements, selection notices, and executive summaries are officially uploaded on the council’s website and communicated to successful bidders through official council emails.

Nehale urged stakeholders to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes and encouraged them to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.