Banking News – Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued a public advisory warning against the growing number of financial scams and urged individuals to verify the authenticity of transactions before transferring money or sharing personal information.

The advisory, issued by the Financial Inclusion and Consumer Protection Department of the central bank, aims to raise public awareness about fraudulent schemes that have become increasingly common in recent months.

According to NRB, a scam is an illegal act in which fraudsters deceive, entice, or intimidate people into handing over their money, property, valuables, or personal information. Scammers typically establish contact through social media platforms, emails, SMS messages, websites, phone calls, or in-person interactions before carrying out fraudulent activities.

The central bank noted that scammers frequently lure victims with promises of unexpected cash rewards, lottery winnings, gifts, property, or money transfers, while demanding advance taxes, service charges, bank account details, or other financial information.

NRB also warned against fake investment schemes that promise unusually high returns with little or no risk, only for fraudsters to disappear after collecting substantial sums from investors.

Other common scams identified by the central bank include fake job offers requiring registration fees, schemes involving the transfer of illicit funds, deceptive promotions for goods and services, requests to transfer money to accounts unrelated to the actual business entity, romance scams conducted through social media, and attempts to steal sensitive financial information.

The advisory further highlighted cases in which fraudsters impersonate employees of government agencies, financial institutions, friends, or relatives to pressure victims into making urgent payments to fraudulent accounts. It also warned about fake payment confirmations presented at retail stores, where scammers display fabricated payment messages without completing the transaction.

In addition, criminals have been found impersonating regulatory authorities and instructing victims to transfer funds to unauthorized bank accounts under false pretenses.

The central bank has advised the public to pause and verify the authenticity of any suspicious request before making financial transactions or sharing confidential information. It also urged individuals to immediately report suspected fraud to the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau, their bank or financial institution, or the relevant regulatory authority if they believe they have been targeted by a scam.