Kathmandu, August 27
The Nepal Police Cyber Bureau has urged the public to remain alert to possible scams targeting people who wish to support those affected by the sudden flooding of the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa.
The bureau warned that individuals with malicious intentions could misuse social media and other digital platforms to defraud people and misappropriate public donations during this sensitive period.
According to the bureau, possible scams may include soliciting money through personal bank accounts or e-wallets using the names of the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund or Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, as well as circulating fake QR codes on social media that imitate the logos, names or formats of official agencies.
The police have also warned the public to be cautious of fake pages or groups created on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram and Viber in the name of different “relief funds” or “support campaigns.” Other potential scams include phone calls requesting personal and banking details under the pretext of “relief assistance registration,” phishing links designed to steal OTPs and passwords, and messages from unknown numbers asking for financial assistance with claims such as, “I am safe, please send me money.”
The Cyber Bureau has urged anyone who suspects that an individual or group is conducting or attempting to conduct a scam in the name of disaster relief to immediately contact the nearest police office or the Cyber Bureau.
