From a WhatsApp 'Hello' to a Rs 1.87 Million Scam: How Fraudsters Used Nepali 'Money Mules' to Launder Stolen Funds

Kathmandu. It began with a simple WhatsApp message saying, "Hello." Days later, fake photos of gold jewelry, iPhones, branded clothes, and other expensive gifts supposedly sent from the United Kingdom convinced a woman from Sankhuwasabha to transfer nearly Rs 1.9 million, her lifetime savings, to fraudsters.

But according to a charge sheet filed by the District Government Attorney's Office in Sankhuwasabha, the case extends far beyond one victim's financial loss. Investigators say it exposes a sophisticated cross-border cyber fraud network that allegedly exploits vulnerable Nepalis as "money mules" by using bank accounts opened in their names to launder stolen funds.

The scam began on December 26, 2024, when the victim, Sharmila Adhikari (name changed), received a WhatsApp message from a UK-registered number. The sender introduced himself as James Thompson, claiming to be a British citizen who had dispatched a valuable parcel to Nepal.

To make the story convincing, the sender shared images showing iPhones, gold ornaments, branded clothing, shoes, watches, and other luxury items packed inside the parcel.

A few days later, the fraudster informed the victim that the parcel had arrived at customs in Nepal but required customs clearance and delivery fees. Believing the claim, she initially transferred Rs 45,000 from her Garima Bikas Bank account to a Citizens Bank account registered in the name of Ajay Prasad Yadav.

The demands did not stop there.

The fraudsters repeatedly instructed her to deposit additional sums into different bank accounts, claiming at various times that customs officials had detained the parcel, police had found gold and a cheque inside it, and that she would be arrested if the required payments were not made.

By the time she realized she had been deceived, she had transferred a total of Rs 1,873,500. She filed a complaint at the Area Police Office, Chainpur, on July 18, 2025.

Sanitation worker’s bank account used in the fraud

Police traced the transferred money through multiple bank accounts, eventually identifying several account holders inside Nepal.

Among those arrested is 23-year-old Kiran Kumar Rishidev of Sunsari, who worked as a daily wage labourer cleaning drains in Biratnagar.

In his statement to investigators, Rishidev claimed he had been approached by two unidentified men while searching for work. After being made to clean drains for a day, he alleged they persuaded him to hand over his citizenship certificate on the promise of employment.

According to his statement, the following day the men took him to a Prabhu Bank branch, opened an account in his name, prevented him from operating it, and disappeared with his citizenship document.

Police investigations show that Rs 551,000 of the victim's money was deposited into that Prabhu Bank account before being rapidly transferred to other accounts.

Lost citizenship allegedly used to open multiple accounts

Another accused, Ajay Prasad Yadav, told investigators that his citizenship certificate had been lost in 2021 at Rajbiraj.

He claimed unknown individuals used the missing document to open accounts in multiple financial institutions, including Citizens Bank, Garima Bikas Bank, Nabil Bank, Siddhartha Bank, NMB Bank, Machhapuchhre Bank, Kamana Sewa Development Bank, and Sanima Bank.

However, investigators said the Know Your Customer (KYC) records obtained from banks do not fully support that claim.

According to the charge sheet, photographs, signatures, and other identification details used while opening the accounts matched Yadav's identity, and transactions exceeding Rs 637,000 were recorded through accounts registered in his name.

Multiple accused face fraud charges

Bank statements reviewed during the investigation indicate that the victim's Rs 1.873 million was distributed across accounts held by multiple defendants.

The District Government Attorney's Office has filed fraud charges against arrested suspects Kiran Kumar Rishidev and Ajay Prasad Yadav, along with absconding defendants Sanjiv Urav, Pramod Mukhiya, Shyam Kumar Shah, Pawan Kumar Yadav, Rama Mukhiya, and Samman Rai.

They have been charged under Sections 249(1) and 249(2) of the Muluki Criminal Code, 2017. If convicted under Section 249(3)(ga), they could face up to seven years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 70,000.

Prosecutors have also sought compensation of Rs 1,873,500 for the victim under Section 254 of the Code and requested additional victim support through the Victim Relief Fund under the Crime Victims Protection Act, 2018.

The growing 'money mule' threat

Investigators say the case highlights a growing cybercrime trend in Nepal.

International fraudsters often avoid dealing directly with Nepali banks. Instead, they recruit unemployed individuals, daily wage workers, or people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, convincing them to open bank accounts or surrender identity documents in exchange for small payments or promises of employment.

These accounts, commonly known in banking as "money mule" accounts, are then used to receive stolen funds before the money is quickly transferred elsewhere through digital transactions or withdrawn via ATMs.

As a result, investigators say, the foreign masterminds remain hidden while the local account holders often become the first people identified by police.

Digital forensic examination underway

Police have seized two mobile phones linked to the case and sent them to the Nepal Police Digital Forensic Laboratory in Kathmandu for examination.

According to prosecutors, the forensic analysis is expected to strengthen the digital evidence in the case.

Authorities also said Ajay Prasad Yadav is reportedly undergoing medical treatment in India, while efforts are ongoing to arrest him and the six other absconding defendants.

The case is currently under consideration at the Sankhuwasabha District Court.

While the court will ultimately determine the criminal liability of those accused, investigators say the case serves as a stark warning that unsolicited WhatsApp messages promising expensive gifts can be the beginning of sophisticated international fraud schemes capable of causing devastating financial losses.

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: साउन २, २०८३ १९:२४