A WhatsApp post is circulating calling for applications to a ‘Hustlers Empowerment Fund’, which allegedly funds students and business owners
The scams just keep on coming.
The latest one shared with Namibia Fact Check on 29 March 2023 for verification reads as follows:
“Hustlers Empowerment Fund Application Form 2022/2023 Is Out Now
Hustlers Empowerment Funding Application Form 2022/2023 online registration exercise which is the quickest to apply for is now out for all bonafide citizens only who needs helping hands in their various Business and Education*
The Payments has began for all applicants,Register To be Part of the Beneficiaries
Strictly for Students and Business ownersCheck Eligibility and Apply here”
The circulating post calling for applications to the “Hustlers Empowerment Fund”
As usual, the post has all the tell-tale signs of being a scam:
- No official emblem, logo or stamp from a recognisable or identifiable agency or authority;
- Bad grammar, spelling and sentence structure throughout;
- A dodgy-looking link to a very basic website.
The Link
Namibia Fact Check clicked on the link so you wouldn’t have to, and this is what we found:
The link takes one to a webpage titled ‘Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme‘.
The webpage contains the Kenyan Coat of Arms, the Nigerian Coat of Arms, the Uganda national flag and the logo of the Nigerian Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme.
The emblems and logo on the webpage of the ‘Hustlers Empowerment Fund’.
The webpage contains testimonial statements and another tab to click to check whether the applicant is eligible to receive funding.
Testimonials on the ‘Hustlers Empowerment Fund’ webpage.
Warning
There is no ‘Hustlers Empowerment Fund’ in Namibia.
Namibian social media users are cautioned not to share or forward scam messages. While most people recognise a scam, some do not and could fall prey to scammers, who count on their scam messages being shared around until a potential victim is eventually reeled in.