The Nepal Police have stepped up their efforts to tackle cyber scam operations, with internet and telecommunication service providers continuously flagging unusual network usage. This collaboration has helped identify potential locations for these scam centers, particularly within the Kathmandu valley. However, challenges persist in detecting operations outside the valley.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudhir Raj Shahi, spokesperson for the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), revealed that discussions have been held with major telecom and internet companies such as Ncell, Nepal Telecom, Vianet, and Worldlink to report high network usage that could indicate cyber scams. Once flagged, the CIB coordinates with local police for further investigation.
One notable case occurred in March, when three Chinese nationals were arrested in Birgunj for their involvement in an online scam targeting Nepalese, Indian, and Pakistani citizens via social media platforms and mobile phones. These arrests were made following tips from service providers about suspicious network activity.
Despite the ongoing efforts, experts, including former Deputy Inspector General Hemanta Malla, argue that relying on service providers alone is insufficient to combat the growing issue of cyber scams outside Kathmandu. Malla stressed the need for the government to invest in enhancing the police’s technical capacity to enable them to independently track and combat cybercrime effectively. He emphasized that while this practice of reporting by service providers is not new, it should not be the sole method for tackling the problem.
