A seller with a slick video, a big follower count and a low price asks for a small delivery fee. Then it asks for more. Then it goes silent. For many Nepali shoppers, that is how an online purchase ends.
A report published on Saturday says police recovered money for only 10% of online-fraud victims who filed complaints. It also says just 384 e-commerce businesses had registered with the government. Fake sellers on social media take advantage of advance payments, discounted goods and accounts that vanish.
How the scam works
The pattern is simple. A seller advertises attractive products on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp. The price is unusually low, or the account looks trustworthy because of videos and follower numbers. The buyer is asked for a delivery charge or an advance transfer. After that, the seller demands more money, never sends the goods, blocks the buyer or deactivates the account.
The money may also have gone to an account that hides the scammer’s identity, which makes recovery harder.
The report described a consumer in Pokhara who ordered skirts advertised by a TikTok account called Nari Collection Nepal. She transferred Rs 250 for delivery, and was then told to pay the full price before anything would be dispatched. When she refused, the seller stopped replying. Even a small sum can be enough for a fraudster.
Why the numbers need care
The 10% figure applies only to victims who filed complaints. It is not the recovery rate for every online shopper or every fraud case. The figure of 384 registered businesses counts e-commerce firms on the government register. It does not show how many fake shops exist or how many sellers operate through social media.
Police have also cited 200 to 300 cyber-fraud complaints a day. That covers cyber fraud broadly, not online shopping alone.
Why sellers are hard to catch
Cyber Bureau information officer, Superintendent of Police Deepak Raj Awasthi, advises buyers to be careful when a seller demands full advance payment and offers no cash on delivery.
Fraudsters may use accounts opened in other people’s names, disposable SIM cards and profiles that can be shut down once the money is collected. Some ads use large follower counts, appealing videos or influencer-style promotion to build trust. The problem is not limited to one platform.
A proposed anti-scam centre
Nepal is preparing a dedicated anti-scam centre that would bring together police, Nepal Rastra Bank, banks and financial institutions, payment providers, internet providers and telecom companies. The aim is better coordination, and possibly action before stolen money is moved through many accounts.
Cyber Bureau officials said the Ministry of Home Affairs had approved the proposal, but the Ministry of Finance still has to approve the budget. The centre is a plan, not a working service.
Speed matters. If a victim reports a suspicious transfer quickly, a bank or payment provider has a better chance of flagging or restricting it. Once the money has passed through several accounts, tracing it becomes harder.
Registration and consumer protection
The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has said businesses that sell through social media must also follow registration rules. Registration helps authorities identify businesses and pursue complaints, though it does not guarantee that a seller is honest.
Buyers can lower their risk by checking a seller’s business identity, contact details, location, customer feedback and registration. Be wary of very low prices, pressure to pay at once, repeated transfer requests and demands for personal documents. Cash on delivery lowers the risk of paying before goods are sent, though you should still check the parcel and the seller’s terms.
For Dashain and Tihar, Nepal Rastra Bank has warned people not to share one-time passwords, banking passwords or digital-wallet PINs, and to avoid links that promise festival prizes or discounts.
What this means for Nepali abroad
Many Nepalis abroad shop online for relatives at festival time, or pay for goods and gifts to be delivered in Nepal. Be especially careful with sellers who ask for full advance payment, and prefer cash on delivery where a relative can inspect the parcel.
What victims should do
Contact your bank or digital-wallet provider at once and ask them to flag or restrict the transaction. Keep payment receipts, screenshots of the ad and the seller’s profile, phone numbers and chat histories. Nepal Police advises victims to file a complaint with the Cyber Bureau in Kathmandu or at the nearest police office. The Cyber Bureau has an online financial-fraud complaint form and accepts evidence such as screenshots and URLs.
What happens next
The low recovery rate shows why quick reporting, closer work between banks and police, and tighter accountability for online sellers all matter.
