KATHMANDU: A scammer gang operating on the social networking platform Telegram has reportedly defrauded Nepali users of more than Rs 450 million.
A complaint has been filed with the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police, detailing the extent of the fraud.
Numerous scam groups are currently active on Telegram, targeting Nepali users with promises of easy income. According to Cyber Bureau spokesperson Deepak Raj Awasthi, these fraudsters attract individuals by offering simple, high-paying tasks, often through messenger groups on Telegram.
The scam operates by sending messages from familiar messenger apps like WhatsApp, which include links to Instagram or Facebook pages.
Users are asked to engage with these pages by liking, commenting, or sharing posts. Afterwards, they are instructed to send a screenshot and are promised money in return.
With scams now rampant on Telegram, Awasthi urges the public to be cautious and avoid falling for fraudulent schemes that promise easy money.
Once the screenshot is submitted, the scammers provide a link to a Telegram account, asking for further personal details such as the user’s name, age, and bank account information.
Awasthi explained that once the scammers receive this information, they can hack into bank accounts. Victims are then encouraged to provide a QR code from their bank or mobile wallet to initiate the supposed payment process.
The fraud continues when individuals are asked to join a Telegram group, where they are given more tasks and promised a return on their investment. As people deposit money in hopes of receiving attractive bonuses, the scammers continue to exploit them.
Awasthi said that Telegram has become a major platform for such fraudulent activities.
“There are many groups of scammers on Telegram, and all the fraud cases we’ve received recently have been on this platform,” he said. He also added the difficulty of investigating fraud on Telegram, as the platform does not provide data to authorities.
The Cyber Bureau advises users not to join these groups and to avoid engaging with suspicious messages.
With scams now rampant on Telegram, Awasthi urges the public to be cautious and avoid falling for fraudulent schemes that promise easy money.
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