KATHMANDU: The unemployment crisis in Nepal continues to worsen, with a lack of employment opportunities and labor market chaos exacerbating the situation.
Youth across the country are struggling due to the absence of formal sector jobs, a mismatch between qualifications and available positions, and a dearth of basic labor opportunities.
Many are unwilling to work in rural areas, prompting them to wander in cities or seek opportunities abroad despite their best efforts.
This growing issue has led to an influx of fraudulent entities preying on the vulnerable.
Fraudsters are taking advantage of the unemployment crisis by setting up fake job centers in Kathmandu and other cities, swindling young job seekers with promises of employment.
These fraudulent operations, which have been ongoing for decades, continue to exploit the desperation of youth in search of work.
According to the Nepal Living Standards Survey (2079/80) report by the National Statistical Office, the unemployment rate in Nepal stands at 12.6%.
Among youth aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate is even higher, at over 22.7%. Within this context, fake “job centers” are targeting this specific age group, trapping them in fraudulent schemes.
Fraudulent Job Centers: A Growing Concern
These so-called “job centers” operate under the guise of offering employment opportunities, charging exorbitant fees in exchange for supposed job placement services.
In the worst cases, after enduring two rounds of fraud, the youth were told their qualifications were insufficient, that the job was no longer available, or that the salary was much lower than initially promised.
They often require applicants to fill out forms, surrender educational documents, and pay money upfront.
Once payment is made, these centers disappear, leaving the youth with nothing but empty promises.
In the past, these fraudulent centers operated by posting ads on walls and electricity poles across the city.
However, in recent times, they have transitioned to social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook, where they reach a younger audience.
These platforms allow fraudsters to exploit the widespread use of smartphones among youth, promoting jobs with attractive salaries and promises of quick employment.
The fraud schemes on social media start with small amounts, such as Rs 500, but gradually escalate.
Fraudsters often advertise specific numbers of male and female employees needed for particular roles, making the offers appear more legitimate.
One prominent example is a TikTok account that uses the name “Big Mart,” Nepal’s largest supermarket chain, to lure job seekers.
Fraudsters capitalize on the company’s expanding presence and its reputation for employing hundreds of youth across cities.
The account posts urgent recruitment advertisements, claiming a need for specific numbers of men and women, and enticing job seekers to act quickly.
Many unsuspecting individuals have fallen into this trap. However, when we visited Big Mart’s head office in Baluwatar to investigate the claims, a senior employee clarified that the TikTok account was spreading false information using the company’s name.
He confirmed that Big Mart only manages human resources through the “Kantipur Job Solution Training Aid Center,” not through any third-party services.
He also mentioned that he had personally visited companies spreading false job offers and warned them against such activities.
Personal Stories of Fraud
Anil Limbu is one of the many victims who fell for the fraudulent advertisements. He was misled by an online post claiming that Big Mart was hiring employees online.
Eager to secure a job, Limbu visited the center and was asked to fill out a form for Rs 500. “I thought it was a small price to pay for a job opportunity,” he said.
However, after paying the initial amount, Limbu was told he needed to undergo training for an additional Rs 2,500. In the hope of landing a job, he paid for the training, only to discover that the promises made to him were false.
The fraudsters explained that the monthly salary would not be as high as initially promised, and that the job would require extended working hours.
Disappointed, Limbu managed to get his training fee back, but lost the Rs 500 he had paid for the form.
“I never imagined that people would open such companies and cheat innocent job seekers. There was a line of people there, all paying Rs 500 for forms, and they were collecting lakhs of rupees every day,” Limbu said, reflecting on the scale of the fraud.
Another anonymous victim shared his experience of being deceived by a similar job center.
He had seen an advertisement for Big Mart on TikTok, which included a phone number to contact.
When he called the number, the fraudsters urged him to come quickly, claiming the available positions were filling up fast.
He rushed to Koteshwor, only to find that the location details were not initially provided, leaving him uncertain about where to go.
“They did not immediately disclose the location where the form had to be filled out. When I called, they kept redirecting me from one chowk to another, making me call repeatedly until I finally reached the office,” said one victim.
“They probably avoided giving their address upfront, fearing that the police or others who had already been scammed might show up.”
Upon arriving, the victim discovered that dozens of other young people were also seeking employment.
Initially, the fraudulent company operators promised him a job and asked for a Rs 500 fee to fill out the form.
The operators then provided a Gmail ID and instructed the young man to send his CV (personal details) to that address.
They assured him he would receive a response regarding the job within three days. However, after six days passed without any communication, the young man, tired of being unemployed, returned to the center.
At that point, the operators changed their tone. Instead of offering the promised job, they set another trap to extract more money.
They claimed that, to secure any employment, he would have to pay 30 percent of his monthly salary upfront to the center.
This left the young man not only losing the Rs 500 fee but also the money spent on commuting and, ultimately, a waste of time in his pursuit of a job.
Widespread Fraud in Kathmandu’s Job Centers
After learning about the growing issue of fraud in Kathmandu’s job centers, Khabarhub representatives visited five different so-called “job centers” that had been advertised on TikTok.
It became clear that the fraudulent methods employed by these centers were remarkably similar.
These centers used social media to advertise fake employment opportunities, drawing in young job seekers with promises of attractive salaries.
Upon arrival, the centers charged between Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 for filling out forms, enticing the youth with the hope of a job.
However, the fraud didn’t stop there. After filling out the form, they asked for original copies of the applicants’ citizenship and educational certificates, claiming they were needed for training purposes.
Many young people, eager to secure work, unwittingly handed over their documents.
In the second phase, these centers demanded additional fees, typically Rs 2,000, for “training” to prepare for the supposed job placement.
Despite the increasing number of young people being scammed daily, the police seem to turn a blind eye to the crimes happening right under their noses, exacerbating the already severe unemployment problem.
As the days wore on, some of the youth, growing frustrated with the lack of progress, asked for their documents back.
The fraudsters would respond by saying the job placement was still under discussion, and that if they took their documents back, they would face penalties.
In the worst cases, after enduring two rounds of fraud, the youth were told their qualifications were insufficient, that the job was no longer available, or that the salary was much lower than initially promised.
To make matters worse, they were also informed that 30 percent of their monthly salary would need to be paid to the company once hired.
It was at this point that the youth realized they had been scammed step by step.
When they demanded the return of their certificates and documents, the fraudsters charged yet another fee, often more than Rs 1,000, before reluctantly handing back their papers.
The Scope of the Scam
These fraudulent job centers have become rampant across Kathmandu, especially in busy intersections along the ring road and within inner city streets.
Popular areas such as Kalanki, Balkhu, Ekantakuna, Satdobato, Koteshwor, Tinkune, Sinamangal, Gaushala, Chabahil, Maharajgunj, Basundhara, Samakhushi, Gongabu, New Bus Park, Machhapokhari, Balaju, Banasthali, Swayambhu, Sitapaila, and Syuchatar Chowk are all home to numerous such centers.
Most of these centers display fake registration certificates at their receptions, aiming to deceive youth into believing they are legitimate.
Police Inaction
Although Nepal Police maintains offices at various chowks, providing security in these areas, there appears to be a concerning lack of action against these frauds.
Despite the increasing number of young people being scammed daily, the police seem to turn a blind eye to the crimes happening right under their noses, exacerbating the already severe unemployment problem.
(Thakuri is a trainee journalist at Khabarhub)
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