66-Year-Old Loses Rs 1.9 Million Chasing $700,000 in Thai Bank Account
पुस ३०, २०८२ १७:४६
Kathmandu: Have you ever received a message online claiming you won a lottery or inheritance abroad? Or that someone with your last name has died overseas, and you can claim their money if you pay a fee? Such messages may seem tempting, but they are often traps to steal your money.
Ved Bahadur Kunwar, 66, recently fell victim to a similar scam. Tempted by the promise of about $700,000 in a Thai bank, he was defrauded of 19 lakh 34 thousand three hundred
A charge sheet filed in Lalitpur District Court reveals how an international gang used Nepali citizens in an organized scam.
The incident began on Facebook Messenger. An unknown woman, identifying herself as Bhanida Suwan, contacted Kunwar. She claimed that a relative had $698,000 (over Rs 100 million) at Siam Commercial Bank in Thailand and offered to transfer it to his account.
The promise of such a large sum fascinated Kunwar. However, he was told that he first had to pay ‘procedural fees’ to receive the money.
Following her instructions, Kunwar deposited money into accounts of various people, unaware he was being scammed by an organized gang of Nepali and Indian nationals.
According to the charge sheet, on 28 Shrawan 2080, Kunwar sent Rs 310,700 to the account of Indian national Najara Ali at Lakshmi Bank, Teku branch. In the same year, on 6 Bhadra, 19-year-old Kuseshwor Mehta of Sunsari deposited Rs 882,600 into an account at Global IME Bank, Biratnagar branch. t the same time, 25-year-old Rajkumar Mehta of Sunsari deposited Rs 741,000 into another Global IME Bank account.
In total, Kunwar transferred Rs 1,934,300 to these unknown individuals. When he later checked his Thai bank account, no money had arrived. The woman and all other contacts disappeared.
After realizing he had been defrauded, Kunwar filed a police complaint. The Cyber Bureau confirmed that social media was used and that a large gang was involved.
The Lalitpur District Government Attorney’s Office has filed a charge sheet naming three main defendants: Rajkumar Mehta, 25, and Kuseshwar Mehta, 19, of Sunsari Dewanganj, and Najara Ali, 43, of Bihar, India, currently residing in Kalanki. All three are absconding, and search warrants have been issued.
Punishment Demanded
The prosecutor has filed the case under Section 249 of the Criminal Code, 2074 BS, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 70,000 if found guilty.
In addition, the charge sheet demands recovery of Rs 1,934,300 from the defendants and its deposit into the Victim Relief Fund.
The case is pending in Lalitpur District Court. Bank vouchers, Facebook messages, and bank statements have been submitted as evidence. Since the defendants are absconding, it remains uncertain when Kunwar will receive justice or recover his money.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: पुस ३०, २०८२ १७:४६
