Financial Scams Rising Through Social Media and Mobile Apps — Nepal Rastra Bank Urges Public to Stay Alert

Kathmandu, October 14 — In recent months, incidents of financial fraud through various social media platforms and mobile applications have been rapidly increasing. Scammers are using WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger, email, and SMS to send deceptive messages claiming that recipients have “won a lucky draw,” “received a parcel from abroad,” “found hidden treasure,” or can “earn high returns in a short time.”

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued a public notice urging citizens to stay alert and not fall victim to such fraudulent schemes. According to the central bank, these messages are typically part of financial scams designed to steal personal or financial information and cause monetary loss.

“Do not trust messages from unknown individuals, and never share your bank account number, password, ATM PIN, or OTP code with anyone,” the NRB warned. The bank further advised the public not to invest in online schemes promising easy profits or attractive returns and to verify any unusual offers with relevant authorities before responding.

To prevent and curb financial fraud, NRB stated that coordination among banks and financial institutions, telecom companies, and security agencies has been strengthened. It also urged citizens to immediately contact the nearest police station or the Cyber Bureau if they receive suspicious messages or fall victim to fraud.