KATHMANDU, Aug 14: Financial crimes in the capital surged sharply in the last fiscal year, with banking offenses alone jumping nearly 15 percent, police records show. Authorities say the rise not only underscores the growing vulnerability of individuals and institutions to fraud but also highlights the increasing sophistication of criminal networks.
According to the District Police (DPO) Range, Kathmandu, a total of 6,553 banking offense cases were filed in Fiscal Year 2024/25, compared to 5,701 in the previous year. Officials say the spike marks a notable year-on-year rise.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Senior Superintendent of Police Bishwa Adhikari said the trend reflects changing patterns in financial crime. “Banking-related offenses reveal the evolving complexities in criminal activities,” he noted, adding that the rise calls for enhanced monitoring and public awareness.
Cyber crimes on the rise in Valley
The police report was released a day after the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) warned of an organized scam involving a fraudulent mobile application, ‘Nepse AI.’ The CIB said scammers lure victims with flashy online ads promising high returns, only to empty their bank accounts once access is gained.
Banking offenses accounted for nearly half of the total 12,915 complaints registered with the District Police Range during the review period. Most involved cheque dishonor, online transaction fraud, and various forms of cheating.
Cases related to cooperative fraud and hundi also saw an increase. The number of cooperative fraud cases rose to 32 from 26 a year earlier, while hundi-related incidents climbed to 18 from 10.
Other crimes listed under the financial offense category included loan sharking, cybercrime, crypto-currency trading, online betting, honey traps, ransom collection, organized foreign employment fraud, consultancy-related cheating, and the smuggling of gold and precious stones.
Capital faces police manpower crunch
The DPO, Kathmandu, is facing a manpower shortage as incidents of various types of crimes continue to rise.
According to the DPO, only 3,233 security personnel are currently on duty, falling short by 815 against the sanctioned strength of 4,016.
Meanwhile, the police range received a total of 428,096 complaint calls on its designated telephone number 100 over the past year. This averages to about 1,172 calls per day, highlighting the increasing pressure on the overstretched force.
