The new empire of cybercrime: How trust became the ultimate target
Summary
A cyber fraud syndicate exploited World Cup broadcast payment rules in Nepal, defrauding victims through fake 'Free World Cup' ads. The Cyber Bureau reported over Rs 22 million lost and arrested perpetrators impersonating eSewa and Cyber Bureau officials.
Key Points
- Cybercriminals in Nepal exploited the FIFA World Cup broadcast payment by spreading fake 'Free World Cup' ads, causing financial fraud.
- Victims, including educated individuals, lost millions through malicious APK downloads and fake apps like EXE, BAT, and APK linked to World Cup viewing offers.
- The Nepal Police Cyber Bureau registered over 19,000 cybercrime incidents in FY 2025/2026, showing a sharp increase over previous years.
- Several individuals were arrested for impersonating eSewa employees and Cyber Bureau officers to commit fraud, highlighting growing cybercrime sophistication.
