Kathmandu, July 24
In a concerning development, Kathmandu police have encountered a new form of crime: cyber-kidnapping, where perpetrators use digital tools to simulate a kidnapping and demand ransom from family members.
According to SP and spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kazi Kumar Acharya, this is the first known case of cyber-kidnapping in Nepal, marking a troubling evolution in criminal tactics.
The case surfaced after a 16-year-old boy from Thankot went missing on Tuesday. Around 11:30 am, his mother received a WhatsApp video call from a number starting with +923, where a man speaking in Hindi claimed her son was part of a group that raped a girl. “We’ve taken him into custody. Deposit Rs 800,000 or he will be killed,” the caller threatened.
Distressed, the mother tried calling her son, but his phone was switched off. The caller then shared a video showing four boys being beaten and a girl with an oxygen mask, allegedly the rape victim. Although she pleaded she couldn’t pay the ransom, the cybercriminal demanded access to her mobile wallet and screen-shared her banking details. Finding only Rs 34 in her e-banking account, the caller reduced the demand to Rs 100,000 and ended the call.
In panic, the boy’s mother contacted police in Thankot and her husband in Dhading. The father rushed to Kathmandu. The family was directed to the Crime Investigation Office in Teku, where DSP Roshan Khadka’s team began the investigation. Preliminary analysis revealed the WhatsApp number originated from Pakistan.
CCTV footage and field inquiries led police to Star Mall in Putalisadak, where the boy was found watching a free comedy show—unharmed and unaware of the commotion. He was surprised when approached by officers.
Further investigation found the boy had left home at 8:30 am and switched his phone to flight mode around 10:30 am. Police suspect the kidnappers obtained personal information through phishing links that the boy had clicked, granting access to his phone and social media. With this data, they convincingly manipulated the mother via video call and simulated a crisis.
According to investigators, the criminals intended to obtain ransom by gaining access to the family’s digital wallets and bank accounts through screen sharing.
Although no money was lost, police are alarmed by this new method. “If there had been money in the mother’s e-wallet, the criminals could have swiftly transferred it,” said one officer. “It’s lucky her account was nearly empty.”
This is the first known case of cyber-kidnapping in Nepal, and authorities say it poses a significant new challenge. The incident highlights how criminals exploit emotional vulnerability and digital platforms to extort money, and police are urging the public to be cautious about suspicious links and unknown calls.
Investigations are ongoing to determine how the perpetrators acquired the boy’s personal data, and whether someone close to him may have been involved.
