North not amused by telemarketing

POLICE at Oshikango in the North have arrested four representatives of a South African company promoting timeshare investments.

The Commander of Police in Ohangwena, Deputy Commissioner Armas Shivute, says the four representatives of Future Vest are being held on charges of fraud and attempted fraud. They will appear in the Ohangwena Magistrate’s Court this week.The four were arrested while giving a presentation for eight business people from Okalongo in the Omusati Region.According to Deputy Commissioner Shivute, some of the Okalongo business people complained that the sales representatives had misled them.One of the businessmen, Josua Mwetupunga, told The Namibian that telemarketers representing Future Vest had called them from South Africa and told them that they had won prizes such as free trips to Mauritius and home appliances.They were invited to attend a presentation at the Oshikango Country Lodge on Saturday morning, Mwetupunga said.When they arrived at the lodge, they were told that they would only qualify for the prizes by investing in timeshare properties.The upset businessmen then called the Police.”We are worried about where this company got our names and other particulars, such as our telephones, cell phones and our bank account details,” said Mwetupunga.When approached by The Namibian, the owner of Future Vest in Durban, Daryl Gray, said he had heard about the arrests and had instructed lawyers to go to the aid of the representatives.He denied that the representatives had been doing anything wrong, saying it was a standard Holiday Club timeshare presentation, which is often made in Namibia.Gray said Government knew about their operations and Holiday Club had obtained approval for a timeshare resort at Swakopmund.They will appear in the Ohangwena Magistrate’s Court this week.The four were arrested while giving a presentation for eight business people from Okalongo in the Omusati Region.According to Deputy Commissioner Shivute, some of the Okalongo business people complained that the sales representatives had misled them.One of the businessmen, Josua Mwetupunga, told The Namibian that telemarketers representing Future Vest had called them from South Africa and told them that they had won prizes such as free trips to Mauritius and home appliances.They were invited to attend a presentation at the Oshikango Country Lodge on Saturday morning, Mwetupunga said.When they arrived at the lodge, they were told that they would only qualify for the prizes by investing in timeshare properties.The upset businessmen then called the Police.”We are worried about where this company got our names and other particulars, such as our telephones, cell phones and our bank account details,” said Mwetupunga.When approached by The Namibian, the owner of Future Vest in Durban, Daryl Gray, said he had heard about the arrests and had instructed lawyers to go to the aid of the representatives.He denied that the representatives had been doing anything wrong, saying it was a standard Holiday Club timeshare presentation, which is often made in Namibia.Gray said Government knew about their operations and Holiday Club had obtained approval for a timeshare resort at Swakopmund.