KATHMANDU, Nov 7: A new wave of online scams targeting bank customers across Nepal has alarmed authorities, as fraudsters increasingly use fake “bank surveys” to steal money from unsuspecting users. The Nepal Police Cyber Bureau has urged the public to remain vigilant amid a sharp rise in digital banking fraud cases.
Police on Thursday arrested three individuals accused of running an online scam that siphoned funds from victims’ bank accounts through fraudulent survey links circulated under the names of reputed commercial banks.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Rajan Giri, 40, of Sangachokgadhi Municipality-11, Sindhupalchowk; Mina Lakandri, 26, of Champadevi Rural Municipality-8, Okhaldhunga, currently residing in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu; and Aditya Kumar, 26, of Bihar, India.
Peoples say on online surveys
According to police, the trio posed as representatives of private banks and sent messages urging people to “participate in a customer service survey” or “complete the survey to receive a cash bonus.” Once victims entered their personal details and One-Time Passwords (OTPs), the fraudsters gained access to their online banking credentials, allowing them to swiftly transfer money from the victims’ accounts.
Investigators suspect that the scam’s software was developed overseas, while the arrested individuals were primarily low-level operatives tasked with posting fake advertisements on social media and sending links using banks’ logos and branding.
Following multiple complaints from defrauded customers, the Cyber Bureau launched a technical investigation that led them to the Chhaya Center Complex in Thamel, Kathmandu, where all three suspects were arrested. During the raid, police seized Nepali and foreign currency, ATM cards from various banks, mobile phones, SIM cards with Indian numbers, and casino membership cards.
The Kathmandu District Court has extended the suspects’ remand for five days as police continue their investigation under charges of electronic fraud and cybercrime.
Superintendent of Police Deepak Raj Awasthi, spokesperson for the Cyber Bureau, said the case reflects a much broader trend. “We register an average of 50 to 60 cases of online banking fraud every month,” he said. “More than 1,600 cyber fraud cases have already been reported this fiscal year alone.”
Awasthi attributed the surge in scams to low digital literacy, noting that even well-educated individuals have fallen prey. “Engineers, doctors, journalists — even young, tech-savvy users — come to us after being defrauded,” he said. “People must remember one simple rule: never click on unknown links, never share your OTP, and only trust official channels of banks and institutions.”
Authorities have once again warned the public not to click on suspicious survey or reward links, no matter how convincing they appear. Police caution that a single careless click could result in the loss of one’s entire bank balance.
