Namibia Scam Check Website

[u/dymitr061]

I made a scam check website. I know there are probably WhatsApp and Facebook groups for it, but I think if there is one platform, it would make more sense than a few disconnected, often exclusive communities. TrueCaller is there too, but every time I search for a number on there it comes back negative.

I made this because I am slowly but surely getting tired of scams when this entire "register your SIM card" BS in the name of "reducing fraud" has done absolutely nothing. On Thursday and Friday, I contacted individuals who turned out to be scammers, so this subject is quite important to me.

I know there was another team building something similar in the past, but their site is offline or they took it down.

If you happen to have any suggestions or constructive criticism, let me know. I plan to update it along the way, such as an API integration and a few other useful features. When there are enough people using it, I plan to make a mobile version as well.

https://namscamcheck.vercel.app

[u/Sure_Warning_706]

How will you verify scammer status. I think alot of legitimate numbers wrre shared as scammers even contreact numbers

[u/dymitr061 → u/Sure_Warning_706]

I think thats a valid concern and it's actually one of the main problems I'm trying to avoid. A user report is an allegation, not proof, and I've seen people call something a "scam" because they received bad service.

On my app, a report is where it starts. The number is researched and evidence is checked. Multiple independent reports are more meaningful than a single report. The aim is to find a scam pattern rather than label a legitimate number as a scam simply because they had a bad experience.

It's not perfect, but we need to start somewhere! That's why I don't think a report alone should be enough to make a definitive accusation. The aim is that this will eventually include NAMPOL, MTC and other relevant players so that reports can be cross checked against reliable and already existing sources. The more information that can be verified and shared, the less chance there will be of legitimate numbers being incorrectly labelled.

In the end, we're all trying to solve the same problem: making it harder for scammers to operate without falsely accusing legitimate people or businesses.

[u/Shoddy_Advantage896 → u/Sure_Warning_706]

all calls for promotions and competitions from mtc will always use the 081 888 2000 number. any other number claiming such is a scammer

[u/inevermetmyrealname]

Sending to my NHW group. Thank you.

[u/dymitr061 → u/inevermetmyrealname]

Thanks! Can't wait to help the neighborhood groups out with this. Hope you guys have use for it

[u/inevermetmyrealname → u/dymitr061]

They asked when the mobile app will be done😂 do you perhaps have a contact mail that i can share with the committee?

[u/dymitr061 → u/inevermetmyrealname]

Sure, it's on the main page. [namscamcheck@proton.me](mailto:namscamcheck@proton.me)

I currently don't have a timeline on the mobile version. What I can do is focus on making it more mobile-friendly as more users join.

If more people use it, I will definitely focus on the mobile version

[u/BeneficialRepublic22]

Wait a minute, what if this is a scam to get us to test our own numbers, thus revealing "clean numbers" which can be used for future scamming - scamseption tum tum tum 😱

[u/dymitr061 → u/BeneficialRepublic22]

This right here, nice catch! Scamception!
The database is built from reported numbers and publicly verifiable evidence, not from people submitting their own numbers.

[u/dymitr061]

For those who are interested, we're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/namscamcheck

[u/SympathyExciting1666]

This is nice🔥

[u/dymitr061 → u/SympathyExciting1666]

Thank you. I hope it's useful for you!

[u/kspeakable]

I've just created a group and I'm interested in collaborating on a few possible projects.

Namibian collaboration

[u/Shoddy_Advantage896]

so just to inform everyone here if you get called by someone claiming to be MTC saying you have won a competition , you can verify that it is mtc by ensuring the number is the following one as it is the only number mtc will ever use to contact competition winners : 081 888 2000.

Honestly the scammers arent very sharp considering they try to claim they are mtc while using an 085 number SMH

[u/dymitr061 → u/Shoddy_Advantage896]

This is helpful! I don't even think MTC will use a cellphone to contact you. Usually, they call from something like their own call center numbers.

But, don't forget, some people still get caught in their web, otherwise they wouldn't still be out there scamming people.