KATHMANDU: Amid rising unemployment, the trend of seeking online jobs among the youth is increasing in Nepal.
Unfortunately, this has led to a surge in fraudulent schemes where scammers falsely claim they can offer online employment opportunities.
A notable issue is the proliferation of fake job advertisements on Facebook that misuse the logos of various Nepali government ministries.
Despite efforts, the government has struggled to prevent these fraudulent ads, which often feature the pictures of current ministers.
One such advertisement, using the logo of the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Tourism Board, claims to offer employee recruitment with a daily salary ranging from NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000.
It promises flexible work hours that can be managed via a mobile phone, with the tagline, “Workplace Nepal.”
Another deceptive ad, also on Facebook, misuses the logo of the Ministry of Labor and a photograph of Labor Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari.
This ad similarly promises a daily salary between NPR 1,000 and NPR 5,000.
Further misleading ads are circulating with the logo of Nepal Bank Limited, suggesting that just 2-5 hours of work per day will yield an attractive, timely salary.
Another example uses the Ministry of Labor’s logo and offers wages of NPR 1,500 for one hour and NPR 4,500 for three hours, targeting individuals over 25 years old with no experience required.
These fraudulent advertisements are deceiving many, with some individuals expressing interest and seeking further information in the comments sections.
Nepal Bank Limited spokesperson Hom Bahadur Khadka has confirmed that these online ads are fake.
“The bank does not hire employees for such short hours, nor do we use Facebook for job advertisements. We utilize recognized media outlets for such announcements,” Khadka stated.
He urged the public to be cautious of ads promising unrealistic benefits based on age or appearance.
Mahesh Parajuli, Assistant Spokesperson of the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security, clarified that the ministry does not post any job advertisements for hourly positions.
He emphasized that most ministry employees are hired through civil service exams and full-time contracts, making the notion of hourly jobs at the ministry implausible.
The Secretariat of Labor Minister Bhandari has reported the fraudulent ads to the Cyber Bureau, and legal action has been initiated against five individuals involved.
Advocate Lokendra Oli pointed out that misusing the logo of any government or private institution constitutes a criminal offense.
“Such acts are prosecutable under labor-related offenses,” he said, adding that creating false documents or records with the intent to cause public harm or personal gain is considered fraud.
According to Section 276 39C of the Criminal Code 2074, individuals found guilty of forging government or public documents face up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to NPR 70,000.
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