The Police have warned that criminal syndicates are increasingly using cyberspace through fake job advertisements, social media and online scams to recruit and exploit victims.

The Police say online child abuse is rapidly increasing as more people move their daily lives onto digital platforms.

A workshop held by the Police is now equipping officers and stakeholders with the skills to detect, investigate, and prevent these crimes.

The Director General of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Menesia Muinjo, said the national broadcaster is stepping up efforts to support cybersecurity awareness as digital threats continue to grow.

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) MP Dederick Vries is concerned that, despite SIM card holders having registered their personal information with service providers, scammers continue to exploit mobile numbers to defraud citizens of their hard-earned money.

Namibia is taking a major step toward strengthening its fight against cybercrime by aligning its domestic laws with new global standards to combat digital fraud, online exploitation, and cyber threats.

Participants at the Cybercrime Bill consultation at Rundu have called for stiffer sentences for cybercrime offenders.

The consultations on the draft Bill are being conducted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT).

Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo has raised concerns over rising crime levels in the Erongo Region, including housebreaking and theft; robbery with aggravating circumstances; fraud and cybercrime targeting pensioners; motor vehicle theft targeting tourists; and assault. 

Namibia has pledged to ratify the newly signed United Nations (UN) Convention against Cybercrime and incorporate its provisions into national law.

The SADC Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee will be meeting in Dar es Salaam from tomorrow until Friday for the Annual General Meeting.

The meeting will focus on tackling transnational organised crime throughout the region. 

Cybercrime remains one of the main challenges in addition to changes in legislation and regulation, which ranks as the number one risk for businesses in Namibia.

The risks were identified by company respondents interviewed for the 2023 Allianz Risk Barometer.