Estate agent board warns public against scammers
Namibia Estate Agent Board (NEAB) manager Festus Unengu urged members of the public to refrain from making deposits for properties they have only seen advertised on social media.NEAB issued a warning to the public, advising against engaging in any transactions with a man they labelled a "notorious scammer", Christian Albertus Thiart.
According to NEAB, Thiart has been unlawfully trading properties under the name 4 U Properties - which was deregistered in 2022 - in the Erongo Region. They noted that he last renewed his licence in 2023 and has not registered for 2024.
NEAB said it is in the process of laying criminal charges against Thiart in terms of Section 16 and Section 34 of the Estate Agents Act.
"We can publicly disclose the names of individuals who engage in scamming, including Mr Thiart, as we have repeatedly attempted to contact him and advise him to register for the year. Unfortunately, our efforts have been unsuccessful."
Unengu said complainants often approach his office only after payments have already been made.
"We receive a significant number of complaints daily from individuals regarding both registered and unregistered - or rouge - estate agents," he said.
"While it is our responsibility to address these complaints, we often encounter difficulty tracing back these funds because the suspects are unfamiliar with our system."
He strongly encouraged members of the public to educate themselves on how to recognise reputable real estate agents to avoid falling victim to scams.
Unengu said clients should not hesitate to contact their offices to verify the credentials of real estate agents. Moreover, all registered agents should possess an identification card, which should contain a valid date of registration and expiration.
“Every agent should have a fidelity fund certificate on display for clients," he explained.
He cautioned agents against operating without a licence, noting that this can lead to a fine of N$5 000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. He also encouraged members of the public to visit their social media pages, as they regularly update them with information about unlicenced agents.