Man Posing as Contractor Defrauds 37-Year-Old Woman of Rs 900,000 Using Fake Tender Story

Kathmandu. A 37-year-old divorced woman from Kathmandu was allegedly defrauded of Rs 900,000 by a man she met through a dating app after he convinced her to lend him money under the pretext of securing approval for a government tender. The incident came to light after the woman approached Nepal Police’s Cyber Bureau seeking help, according to bureau spokesperson SP Dilip Kumar Giri.

According to police, the woman had been using a dating app in search of a life partner when she came into contact with a 45-year-old man who introduced himself as a contractor. After about two weeks of regular conversation on the app, the two shifted their communication to WhatsApp and gradually became closer.

SP Giri said the man avoided meeting in open public places and instead chose locations where he could avoid being noticed or recorded on CCTV cameras. “Even though the woman suggested meeting in safer and more public places, the man repeatedly made excuses to avoid them,” Giri said. “His intention appears to have been to leave behind no evidence that could later assist an investigation.”

During one of their meetings, the man allegedly told the woman that he had recently secured a government tender worth Rs 250 million but was facing difficulties because officials were demanding money to process the approval. Claiming that his funds were temporarily frozen in the bank, he requested Rs 900,000 from her, assuring her that the project would generate large profits.

Police said the woman initially only had Rs 700,000. Fearing she might lose the relationship if she refused to help, she arranged the remaining Rs 200,000 after consulting a friend and eventually handed over the full Rs 900,000 in cash to the man. 

According to SP Giri, the suspect gradually began distancing himself after receiving the money. He reportedly stopped answering phone calls and later became unreachable on WhatsApp. During a recent conversation, he allegedly claimed he was occupied helping his elder brother, which police suspect was merely another excuse.

The woman later approached the Cyber Bureau, expecting the case to fall under cybercrime because the two first connected through a dating app. However, police said no digital financial transaction had taken place, and there was little evidence available.

“The woman says she does not even have a photograph of the man or any other supporting evidence,” SP Giri said. The bureau has advised her to file a complaint at the nearest police station and inform authorities if the suspect attempts to contact or meet her again.

SP Giri urged the public not to trust strangers online within a short period of acquaintance or hand over money without proper verification. He also warned about organized groups that lure victims online under the pretext of currency exchange and disappear after taking physical cash or providing counterfeit notes.

“People should only carry out financial transactions after proper understanding and consultation with knowledgeable individuals,” he said. “It is important to maintain as much evidence as possible during monetary dealings, as this not only helps people stay safe but also makes investigations easier if fraud occurs.”

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