Gang Defrauds Nepalis by Posing as Police Officers and Demanding ‘Government Fees’ for Refunds

Kathmandu: A gang has been found deceiving victims of online fraud by impersonating police officers and repeating the same scam. Using photos of police officers and former police chiefs on social media, the group demands money as “government fees” on the pretext of refunding the money the victims had already lost.

In the wake of the recent Gen-Z protests, the police have gradually started taking complaints. Taking advantage of this situation, scammers have become more active.

Recently, cases have surged in Nepal where people are lured into investing on social media with promises of high returns. Other frauds include lottery scams, fake online shopping, social media hacking, digital wallet and banking fraud, and draining bank accounts using fake SIM cards. Targeting victims of these crimes, another gang has now emerged to scam them again.

This gang created a Facebook page called “CBI Department Help” to spread its fraud network. The page’s profile picture features former Inspector General of Police Sarbendra Khanal. Videos posted on the page show police officers in discussion.

In one video, a man dressed as a police officer speaks in Hindi, saying, “Hello, I am an officer of the police department speaking. If your goods have arrived from abroad, some of your friends are stopped at the airport, money has arrived in the bank, or there is a visa problem and someone is asking you for money in the name of a courier, airport permit, or bank manager, please do not give a single penny. Contact us. We will help you. It is our job to deliver your goods; it is our duty to serve you.”

In the same video, defrauded Nepalis are shown sending money through QR codes. The gang tries to win public trust by using emotional and security-related language, repeatedly addressing the audience as “Behen” (sister), apparently targeting female victims.

When TechPana contacted the Facebook page, the operator immediately sent a photo of the Police Circle at Kharipati and a video of a police officer. They then asked for a contact number and requested communication through WhatsApp.

After contacting through WhatsApp, a voice call followed. When asked what kind of fraud we had faced, we said we were victims of the “Zamzam Electronics” scam. The caller did not respond for a while but called back after about ten minutes.

“We were recording a video of your belongings. Please verify,” said the voice in Hindi. The WhatsApp video showed foreign currency and an iPhone being taken out of a box marked “Zamzam Electronics.” Another video showed Nepali currency being handled. These are the same types of videos scammers usually send to deceive people.

Seeing familiar footage, victims believe their goods are safe with the police and that their money will be returned. Few question why Nepal Police would speak in Hindi. Desperate to recover their money, they fail to see the red flags, something the scammers exploit.

Once trust is built, the gang begins demanding money. During further conversation, they claim to be police officers stationed at Tribhuvan International Airport. They then tell victims that a “government fee” must be paid to recover the stolen funds. The amount depends on the value of the goods.

Victims are pressured to send the money immediately through a QR code. If someone insists on visiting the airport instead of paying online, they are told to come only with a Supreme Court letter. To appear legitimate, the scammers send a photo of a police van inside the Supreme Court premises.

The QR code leads to a Nepali bank account. When questioned why the money should go to a personal account instead of a government one, the scammer claims the account belongs to a senior officer and that the money will later be transferred to the government account.

Once victims send the money, scammers continue demanding more under new pretexts. If refused, they resort to threats and obscene abuse.

It has been found that the gang often uses Pakistani phone numbers for calls. They likely obtain or purchase WhatsApp numbers registered in Pakistan to carry out these scams. The bank accounts used in these operations are obtained by luring locals, paying them monthly rent, or giving them a lump sum.

Because of their involvement, the scammers are well aware of various frauds happening across Nepal, making it easier for them to convince victims.

 

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: कात्तिक १२, २०८२ ११:२५

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