Online fraud cases surge

Deepak Bhatta (name changed), a resident of Kailali who has been living in Qatar for three years, lost money after purchasing a scooter advertised for sale online. He is now facing theft charges.

Bhatt had exchanged an iPhone he purchased abroad as payment for the scooter. However, the seller, a young man, had stolen the scooter, which belonged to another woman, and sold it to Bhatta. When Bhatta attempted to use the scooter, the seller disappeared, leaving Bhatt entangled with the Valley Traffic Police Office after the owner filed a complaint about the theft.

According to data from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu, 963 complaints of online fraud have been registered since July 2024, amounting to a total fraud of Rs 378,590,336. Of these, 82 cases have been resolved, with Rs 17m recovered, said Kazi Kumar Acharya, spokesperson for the office.

Acharya detailed various forms of fraud reported, including 26 complaints of lottery scams, 111 cases involving fraudulent claims of parcel arrivals, and 95 incidents of OTP code fraud. Additionally, 215 complaints were related to scams through fake advertisements, while 29 cases involved general scams, 25 stemmed from hacked social media accounts, and 346 were linked to online job scams.

Police have arrested 13 individuals, including one woman, in connection with these cases.

Fraudulent schemes in Nepal have become increasingly sophisticated. Have you received a message from an unknown number claiming you’ve won a lottery or received a gift from abroad? Be cautious—criminal gangs are exploiting such tactics to deceive people.

These fraudsters are using over 500 phone numbers and have targeted unsuspecting victims by promising lottery winnings, parcels, or dreams of traveling to the United States. Hobindra Bogati, spokesperson for the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police (CIB), confirmed that organized gangs are involved in these online scams.

Bogati also noted that fraudsters are monitoring financial transaction apps like eSewa and Khalti. If users are not careful, these criminals can hack into their accounts and steal money. The number of complaints about financial fraud through such platforms is rising, prompting the CIB to issue warnings.

Social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber, and Imo, are increasingly being exploited for fraudulent activities. Scammers have even targeted government employees by impersonating officials from app headquarters or social media offices.

Fraudsters use AI-generated voices to claim parcels have arrived or demand courier fees. They also send internet links to gain access to victims' devices and banking apps, stealing money through fraudulent transactions.

Gangs also lure victims by uploading attractive videos and photos on various sites under the guise of online businesses. Customers are often duped into paying advances for goods that are never delivered. Police have received numerous complaints of financial fraud, including Rs 5.7m in Pokhara, Rs 1.6m in Chitwan, Rs 550,000 from government employees, and millions from various companies and organizations.

The CIB has urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid responding to calls or messages from unknown numbers. Investigations into these cases are ongoing.