Nepal Rastra Bank Urges Public to Stay Vigilant Against Scams -

Kathmandu: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued a public advisory calling on citizens to remain vigilant against the rising threat of financial scams. The central bank warned that fraudsters are increasingly exploiting digital platforms and everyday communication channels to deceive people into surrendering money, personal information, or other valuable assets.

In the advisory, NRB noted that scammers commonly approach victims through social media, text messages, websites, phone calls, emails, and even face-to-face interactions. Once they gain a person's trust, they employ various tactics to carry out fraudulent activities.

The notice outlines several of the most common forms of scams currently targeting the public. These include fake requests for money transfers under the pretext of taxes, service charges, prizes, or gifts; fraudulent investment schemes promising unusually high returns with little or no risk; fake job offers requiring registration fees or advance payments; business scams involving counterfeit invoices or unauthorized bank accounts; romance scams that exploit emotional relationships for financial gain; and impersonation scams in which criminals pose as government officials, bank employees, company representatives, friends, or relatives. NRB also cautioned against the growing misuse of fake QR codes and fabricated digital payment confirmations designed to trick individuals into transferring funds.

To protect themselves, the central bank has advised the public to verify the identity of anyone requesting money or sensitive information, avoid sharing banking credentials such as passwords, PINs, or one-time passwords (OTPs), and exercise caution when presented with investment opportunities or financial offers that appear unusually attractive. It also emphasized the importance of confirming payment requests through official and trusted channels before making any transaction.

NRB has urged anyone who encounters or suspects fraudulent activity to report it promptly to the Cyber Bureau, Nepal Police, their respective bank or financial institution, or the relevant regulatory authority. According to the central bank, timely reporting not only helps reduce financial losses but also supports efforts to prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.