Digital Payment Risks Surface as Innocent User Flagged in Fraud Investigation

Kathmandu. Richa Magar (name changed), 32, who had recently begun working as a ride-sharing driver, found herself unexpectedly entangled in a fraud investigation after her digital wallet was blocked.

Previously employed at an office in the capital, Richa said she turned to ride-sharing after facing months of delayed salary payments. With a scooter and a valid license, she began working on platforms such as Pathan, inDrive, and Yango, seeking greater financial independence and flexibility. “It was the best option for me. I didn’t have to depend on anyone, and I could work on my own time,” she said.  

Richa maintained high ratings across platforms,  4.99 on Indrive and 5 on Yango. She said she had not faced complaints from passengers and often received encouragement for working as a woman rider. On average, she earned around Rs 1,200 per day.  

Her routine was suddenly disrupted on Saturday afternoon,  when a passenger was unable to complete her payment through her eSewa QR code. She later accepted the fare through another account and contacted customer service to understand the issue regarding her eSewa account. She was informed that her account had been blocked due to suspected involvement in online fraud and was asked to contact the Cyber Bureau for further details.  “I initially thought a passenger had sent fraudulent money,” she said. The incident immediately affected her work. She stopped taking raises midway through her daily target, losing both income and potential incentives.

At the Cyber Bureau the following day, Richa was informed that her account had been linked to a fraud complaint filed in Moran. The issue, however, was not related to her recent ride-sharing activity but to a transaction made nearly two years ago. As the facts of the investigation came to light, only then was the real secret of this incident revealed.

At the time, she had applied to travel to Japan through a consultancy and paid Rs 50,000. When the process stalled, she repeatedly requested a refund. “They ignored my calls for a long time. I even had to threaten to take legal action,” she said. 

The consultancy eventually returned the amount in multiple installments ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, transferred from different accounts over a period of time. “I didn’t question where the money came from. I just wanted my refund,” she said. Investigators later found that those funds were linked to proceeds from an online scam. 

It remains unclear whether the consultancy was directly involved in fraudulent activities or was itself a part of broader scam networks.

According to Cyber Bureau spokesperson Superintendent of Police Dilip Kumar Giri, misuse of money mule accounts has been an ongoing issue. “It cannot be concluded that all individuals whose accounts are blocked are involved in scams,” he said. “However, once a complaint is filed, accounts linked to the transaction chain are frozen during investigation.” He advised users to verify the identity of individuals or institutions before sending or receiving money through digital platforms. 

The case highlights growing risks within Nepal’s expanding digital payment ecosystem, where users may unknowingly become part of fraudulent transactions. For Richa, the consequences have been immediate. “I was earning honestly. Now my income has stopped,” she said. 

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