KATHMANDU, Aug. 8: Online fraud, fake social media accounts and account hacking have emerged as major cybercrime threats in Nepal, with thousands of people turning to the police for help over financial losses, harassment and digital abuse.
Data from the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police show that financial and online fraud accounted for the largest share of complaints, with 7,410 cases reported in one year. Fake accounts or accounts created in other people’s names followed, with 4,787 complaints.
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Threats, abuse and harassment were also common, with 4,362 complaints registered. Similarly, 2,174 complaints were related to hacked accounts, according to police.
The bureau also received complaints involving the circulation of obscene content through social media and sexual blackmail, reflecting the growing range of offences taking place in the digital space.
Young people featured prominently among those accused of cybercrimes. According to the Bureau’s data, people aged 19 to 25 constituted the largest group of alleged perpetrators. Among victims, those aged 26 to 35 accounted for the highest number of complaints.
Police said 161 cybercrime cases were registered with the Bureau over the year.
