Anti-scam center to tackle cyber fraud from Mangsir, 24-hour contacts required from payment providers

Preparations are underway to set up an anti-scam center where Nepal Police, Nepal Rastra Bank, banks and financial institutions, payment service providers, internet service providers and telecom companies will work together under one roof to control cyber fraud.

According to Nepal Police, about 200 to 300 cyber fraud complaints are filed daily. Delays in coordination between banks and law enforcement agencies have made it difficult for victims to recover lost money.

Cyber Bureau spokesperson Deepak Raj Awasthi said the proposal, prepared on the initiative of Inspector General of Police Danbahadur Karki, has already been approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said the center could begin operating within about a month once the Ministry of Finance approves the budget.

The center aims to quickly identify and freeze accounts, phone numbers and websites used for fraud, and to speed up the return of victims' money once fraud is confirmed.

Meanwhile, citing the risk of increased fraud during the long holidays of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath, Nepal Rastra Bank has directed payment system operators and service providers to designate responsible contact persons available around the clock. The name, position, mobile number and continuously monitored email address of the designated person must be sent to the police Cyber Bureau.