NU
Thu, 17 July 2025
KATHMANDU – A significant and escalating number of young Nepalis are falling victim to elaborate foreign employment scams, driven by the compelling lure of overseas opportunities amidst widespread youth unemployment and underemployment within the country. This alarming trend has resulted in substantial financial losses and severe personal hardship for those seeking a better future abroad.
The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office (KVCIO) of the Nepal Police is now receiving daily reports from individuals who have been defrauded.
In just the past ten months, authorities estimate that over 1 billion Nepali Rupees (approximately £6.2 million) has been lost to these schemes. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nabaraj Acharya indicated that individuals hoping for jobs in countries such as Europe or the United States frequently incur the most significant financial damage.
The Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) has registered over 1,150 complaints during this period, with many more reaching the KVCIO, often lacking the concrete evidence needed for immediate formal action.
The pervasive issue of youth unemployment in Nepal creates a fertile environment for such fraudulent activities. With a considerable portion of the young population struggling to find suitable and well-paying jobs domestically, the prospect of higher wages and enhanced living standards in developed nations becomes an almost irresistible temptation.
Many aspiring migrant workers, particularly from rural areas, also face a lack of comprehensive information regarding safe migration processes and legitimate recruitment channels. This leaves them highly susceptible to persuasive yet dishonest assurances.
Fraudsters exploit this vulnerability by employing increasingly sophisticated tactics. They often operate from abroad, leveraging popular social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, and YouTube to disseminate professional-looking but deceptive advertisements.
Initially, they may demand small sums, only to escalate financial requests as victims supposedly progress towards their overseas destination, often through perilous, unofficial routes. These transactions are frequently designed to be untraceable, making recovery of funds nearly impossible if the journey is halted or the promised job fails to materialise.
Furthermore, reports suggest that agents sometimes resort to intimidation to prevent victims from lodging complaints, capitalising on their financial vulnerability and desperation.
Despite the DoFE issuing public warnings urging vigilance, the cross-border nature of many of these scams presents considerable challenges for law enforcement agencies in terms of investigation, apprehension, and prosecution. Authorities, however, remain committed to pursuing these criminals, asserting that operating from overseas does not guarantee impunity.
Prospective migrant workers are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution: to rigorously assess their skills and qualifications, to only transfer funds through official banking channels, and to insist on written agreements rather than relying solely on verbal promises from brokers.
The human cost of these scams extends far beyond financial ruin, often leading to profound emotional trauma and significant disruption to victims' family and social lives, compelling many to relocate in pursuit of justice.
The pervasive dreams of a better life abroad, tragically exploited by cunning fraudsters, highlight the urgent need for enhanced awareness and robust protections for Nepal's aspiring youth.
