Terms of Use, Privacy, Reporting and Legal Responsibility

01Purpose of Report Scam Namibia

Report Scam Namibia is a digital reporting, awareness and fraud-intelligence platform created to help individuals and organisations identify, report and raise awareness about suspected scams, fraud, identity abuse, cyber-related threats and other suspicious activities.

Our purpose is to:

• provide a platform for reporting suspected scams and fraud;
• help users check suspicious phone numbers, email addresses, names, businesses, websites and other identifiers;
• raise public awareness;
• improve community safety;
• help prevent other people from becoming victims;
• preserve information relating to reported incidents; and
• provide useful fraud and scam intelligence.

Report Scam Namibia is not a court of law, law-enforcement agency or judicial authority. A report appearing on the platform does not, by itself, establish that a person or business has committed a criminal offence.

02User identity verification

To protect the platform against anonymous abuse and false reporting, users may be required to verify their identity before submitting or publishing reports.

Verification may require a clear copy or photograph of the front and back of a valid:

• Namibian identity document;
• driver's licence; or
• passport.

Additional verification information may be requested where reasonably necessary. Identity verification is intended to ensure that reports can be connected internally to an identifiable and accountable user.

03Privacy of identity documents

Identity documents submitted for verification are not intended for public display. Report Scam Namibia will not display a reporter's ID document, passport, driver's licence number or other private verification information on a public Report Card merely because that person submitted a report.

Verification information will be used primarily for:

• confirming the identity of the account holder;
• preventing fake or duplicate accounts;
• preventing malicious reporting;
• maintaining accountability;
• investigating abuse of the platform;
• protecting the integrity of reports; and
• responding to lawful legal or regulatory requirements.

We will take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect verification information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

04Disclosure of information

Report Scam Namibia does not sell users' identity documents or verification information to advertisers or unrelated third parties. However, confidentiality does not mean that information can never be disclosed.

Information may be preserved or disclosed where reasonably necessary or legally required, including in response to:

• a valid court order;
• a lawful request from the Namibian Police;
• another competent authority acting under Namibian law;
• legal proceedings;
• investigation of suspected criminal activity;
• investigation of fraudulent or malicious use of the platform; or
• protection of the legal rights and safety of Report Scam Namibia, its users or another person.

Where permitted by law, Report Scam Namibia may challenge requests that appear unlawful, excessive or unrelated to a legitimate legal purpose.

05Reporter's responsibility

Every user is personally responsible for the information they submit. Before submitting a report, the user must reasonably believe that the information being provided is truthful and must not knowingly provide false or misleading information.

Users should report facts and genuine experiences, not rumours, personal grudges or unsupported accusations.

By submitting a report, you confirm that:

1. 1.the information is truthful to the best of your knowledge;
2. 2.you have not deliberately fabricated evidence;
3. 3.you are not submitting the report to harass, threaten or damage another person;
4. 4.you have not intentionally misrepresented another person's identity;
5. 5.uploaded evidence has not been deceptively altered;
6. 6.you understand that your submission may have consequences for the person or organisation being reported; and
7. 7.you accept responsibility for statements you personally submit.

06False, malicious and defamatory reports

Report Scam Namibia has zero tolerance for deliberately false reports.

The platform must never be used to:

• falsely accuse someone of being a scammer;
• damage a person's reputation because of a personal disagreement;
• attack a former partner, colleague, employer or competitor;
• blackmail or threaten another person;
• publish fabricated transactions;
• upload forged or manipulated evidence;
• impersonate another person;
• coordinate malicious mass reporting; or
• knowingly make defamatory or unlawful statements.

A user's access to Report Scam Namibia does not give that user immunity from Namibian law. Where a person knowingly submits false, malicious, defamatory or unlawful material, that person may be personally responsible for the legal consequences of their statements or conduct. This may include civil proceedings or other legal action available under Namibian law.

07Report Scam Namibia is a reporting and information platform

Report Scam Namibia provides technology through which users can submit information concerning suspected scams, fraud and related activity. We do not automatically adopt every user allegation as an established fact.

Where appropriate, reports may be marked:

• Pending Review
• Under Review
• Caution
• High Risk
• Verified
• Rejected
• Archived

The wording and status of reports may change when new information or evidence becomes available.

08Moderation

Report Scam Namibia reserves the right to review submitted content before or after publication. We may:

• request additional evidence;
• redact private information;
• correct categorisation;
• combine duplicate reports;
• temporarily hide a report;
• reject a report;
• remove unlawful material;
• suspend publication;
• restrict comments;
• suspend a user;
• permanently ban an account; or
• preserve information required for an investigation.

Report Scam Namibia is not required to publish every report submitted.

09Right of response and disputed reports

Fairness is important to the integrity of the platform. A person or organisation who believes that information published about them is inaccurate, misleading, outdated, defamatory or unlawful may request a review.

Where appropriate, Report Scam Namibia may:

• temporarily place the report under review;
• request information from the complainant;
• request additional information from the original reporter;
• correct factual errors;
• add relevant clarification;
• change the risk status;
• restrict access to certain information; or
• remove information where appropriate.

Submitting a challenge does not automatically require removal of a legitimate report.

10Evidence

Users may be permitted to upload screenshots, receipts, conversations, emails, documents, transaction information, photographs and other evidence. Users must ensure that evidence is genuine and relevant.

Sensitive information contained in evidence should not automatically become public. Report Scam Namibia may redact or restrict access to:

• identity numbers;
• banking credentials;
• passwords;
• OTPs;
• home addresses;
• private documents;
• account numbers;
• private correspondence; and
• other sensitive personal information.

11Electronic records

Reports, account activity, evidence, timestamps, moderation history and other electronic information may be retained as electronic records.

Namibia's Electronic Transactions Act, 2019 (Act No. 4 of 2019) provides a legal framework for electronic transactions, data messages and electronic evidence.

Users should therefore understand that activity performed electronically may potentially form part of evidence in appropriate legal proceedings.

12Platform records and audit trails

For security, accountability and fraud prevention, Report Scam Namibia may maintain records such as:

• account ID;
• verified identity status;
• report history;
• submission dates and times;
• login activity;
• moderation actions;
• evidence records;
• amendments;
• appeals;
• account restrictions;
• security events; and
• other appropriate audit information.

Such information will not automatically be publicly displayed.

13Privacy and the Namibian Constitution

Report Scam Namibia recognises the importance of privacy and the protection of personal information.

The platform will operate with regard to Article 13 of the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, which protects privacy subject to limitations permitted by law.

We aim to collect only information reasonably necessary for verification, security, reporting and operation of the service.

14Data security

Because Report Scam Namibia handles sensitive information, reasonable security measures should be maintained, including where appropriate:

• encrypted communications through HTTPS;
• password hashing;
• secure authentication;
• role-based access control;
• restricted administrative access;
• secure evidence storage;
• audit logging;
• rate limiting;
• anti-bot protection;
• session security;
• monitoring of suspicious activity; and
• appropriate backup and recovery procedures.

No internet-based system can guarantee absolute security.

15Data retention

Verification documents and other personal information should be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for legitimate platform purposes, legal obligations, dispute management, fraud prevention and security.

Where information is no longer reasonably required, Report Scam Namibia may securely delete, anonymise or otherwise dispose of it, subject to applicable legal requirements.

16Community confirmations and comments

Features such as "Me Too", comments and community confirmations provide additional information about community experiences.

A community confirmation does not, by itself, prove criminal conduct.

Users remain responsible for statements made in comments and confirmations. Abusive, threatening, defamatory, fabricated or irrelevant comments may be removed.

17No guarantee that an entity is safe

If a search produces NO REPORTS FOUND, this means only that no relevant approved report was found in the platform's database at that time.

It does not mean that the person, number, email address, website or business is guaranteed to be legitimate or safe. Users must continue exercising reasonable care before sending money, sharing personal information or entering into transactions.

18Cooperation with authorities

Report Scam Namibia supports lawful efforts to combat scams, fraud and related crime. Where legally required, the platform may cooperate with the Namibian Police, courts or other competent authorities.

Information will not be released merely because an unrelated person requests it. Requests for protected information must have an appropriate lawful basis.

19Misuse of the platform

Accounts may be suspended or permanently terminated for:

• knowingly submitting false reports;
• harassment;
• impersonation;
• fabricated evidence;
• coordinated malicious reporting;
• attempts to access another user's account;
• attempting to bypass security controls;
• abusing personal information;
• threatening another user;
• manipulating community confirmations; or
• using the platform for unlawful purposes.

Serious matters may be referred to the appropriate authorities where justified.

20Limitation of platform responsibility

Report Scam Namibia provides reporting, verification-support, awareness and fraud-intelligence services. We do not guarantee that:

• every submitted report is accurate;
• every scam will appear in our database;
• every reported person has committed an offence;
• every unreported person or business is safe; or
• use of the platform will prevent every financial loss.

We will, however, endeavour to maintain reasonable moderation, reporting, correction, security and review procedures. Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under Namibian law.

21Changes to reports

Report Scam Namibia may modify the presentation, classification or status of a report following moderation, new evidence, a successful challenge, a court decision or other relevant information.

A report may therefore move from one status to another as the available information changes.

22User consent

By registering an account, you confirm that you:

• have read these Terms;
• understand why identity verification is required;
• consent to your submitted information being processed for the operation and security of Report Scam Namibia;
• understand that verification documents are not intended for public display;
• understand that lawful disclosure may occur where legally required;
• agree to submit truthful information;
• accept responsibility for information you knowingly submit;
• understand that deliberately false or malicious reports may expose you to legal consequences; and
• agree to comply with these Terms and applicable Namibian law.

23Governing law

These Terms and the use of Report Scam Namibia are governed by the laws of the Republic of Namibia. Relevant legal principles and legislation may include, where applicable:

• the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, including Article 13 concerning privacy;
• the Electronic Transactions Act, 2019 (Act No. 4 of 2019);
• applicable Namibian common-law principles, including those concerning defamation and civil liability; and
• any other applicable Namibian legislation, regulations or lawful court orders.

Where new data-protection, cybersecurity or related legislation becomes effective in Namibia, these Terms and the platform's privacy practices may be updated accordingly.

24Important acknowledgement before submitting a report

Before a report can be submitted, the user is required to confirm:

I confirm that the information I am submitting is truthful to the best of my knowledge. I understand that deliberately submitting false, fabricated, malicious or defamatory information may expose me personally to legal action. I understand that Report Scam Namibia records my verified account as the source of this submission.

The acknowledgement must be actively ticked before the Submit Report button becomes available.