The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) has issued an urgent warning to the public and small business owners regarding fraudulent emails targeting applicants of the SME Fund. These emails are not issued by the NIPDB or the SME Fund, and appear designed to mislead or defraud recipients. According to the board, in some instances, scammers are impersonating individuals linked to the SME Fund team and pressuring applicants to respond urgently and supply banking details. The public is urged to exercise caution, as these fraudulent emails are highly convincing, often using addresses and formats that closely resemble genuine SME Fund communication channels. The NIPDB wishes to clarify that all official communication regarding the SME Fund is sent only through verified NIPDB and SME Fund channels.