Foreign job scams via social media soar

Kathmandu, July 17: Every day, individuals deceived under the pretense of lucrative foreign employment opportunities arrive at the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office (KVCIO) of the Nepal Police. Some come with concrete evidence, while others carry nothing but their distressing stories.

Many fall prey to alluring promises of jobs in Europe or the United States, while some return home stranded midway after being abandoned by unscrupulous middlemen.

Complaints involving financial transactions made for foreign employment are investigated by the Department of Foreign Employment under the Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security. Although investigations do take place, traffickers and agents often remain one step ahead of the authorities. These intermediaries are cunning, they accept money in ways that leave little to no traceable evidence.

Talking to The Rising Nepal daily on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police (SP) Kaji Kumar Acharya, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office said, the number of people being swindled in the name of foreign employment is steadily increasing.

He said that over the past 10 months alone (mid-September, 2024 to mid-July, 2025), more than 500 victims have filed formal complaints.

A growing number of Nepalis aspiring to work abroad, particularly in Europe and the United States, are falling victim to elaborate foreign employment scams, with claimed property to the tune of over Rs. 1 billion within just 10 months, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nabaraj Acharya.

“Those deceived while attempting to go to Europe or the U.S. often suffer the heaviest financial losses,” said SSP Acharya. “While such cases are primarily handled by the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), many complaints still reach the police. Some are never officially registered due to insufficient evidence.”

SSP Acharya revealed that more than 1,150 complaints have been registered with the DoFE alone. Those unable to file formal complaints elsewhere often end up at the Crime Investigation Office.

Many victims are reportedly silenced by brokers (agents) who use intimidation and false promises to prevent them from filing complaints.

According to combined records from the DoFE and the police’s Crime Investigation Office, complaints registered over the past 10 months involve total losses exceeding Rs. 1 billion. Of this, over Rs. 650 million was claimed at the DoFE, and over Rs. 400 million at the Crime Investigation Office.

"Most of the complaints we receive involve promises of jobs in countries such as New Zealand, Portugal, Malta, and Croatia," said Acharya. "It is not easy for Nepalis to legally enter these countries for employment, yet victims fall prey to brokers’ enticing assurances."

SSP Acharya noted that since many brokers operate from abroad, bringing them under the legal net remains a significant challenge. "These agents often live overseas but continue to target individuals back in their own hometowns. They exploit people's dreams of foreign lifestyles and easy money," he added.

One particularly alarming case involved a single individual paying as much as Rs. 5 million to a broker in hopes of going to the U.S. Typically, scammers initially demand a small sum and gradually ask for more after the victim reaches a transit country. The financial drain continues until the final destination is either reached or abandoned. In cases the journey is interrupted, the victims rarely get any refunds.

SSP Acharya emphasised that social media plays a major role in luring victims, with many falling for professionally designed ads promising high-paying jobs abroad. “Those who lose money are not just financially impacted; their family and social lives also get upset,” he said. “Many are forced to relocate to Kathmandu, living in rented rooms while trying to trace the broker. The trauma of being exploited and deceived is often far worse than imagined.”

On Tuesday (July 15), the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) had issued a public alert urging citizens to remain vigilant against increasing incidents of fraud perpetrated through social media platforms by promising attractive overseas employment opportunities.

In a press release signed by the Department’s spokesperson, Chandra Bahadur Siwakoti, the DoFE highlighted growing illegal activities in which individuals and groups are exploiting platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, Viber, and YouTube to lure unsuspecting job seekers with false promises of foreign employment, particularly in South Korea under E-7 visa schemes.

DoFE’s Siwakoti said that under the Foreign Employment Act-2007, Nepali migrant workers are legally permitted to work abroad only through government-approved destination countries and licensed recruitment agencies (manpower companies). Workers must obtain official labour approval from the department and are required to depart via Nepal’s designated international airports.

SSP Acharya urged prospective migrant workers to thoroughly assess their skills and qualifications before pursuing jobs abroad. He stressed the importance of transferring funds only through official banking channels and warned against giving money to brokers based solely on verbal promises or without written agreements.

Despite the brokers being based abroad, Acharya made it clear they are not beyond the reach of law enforcement. “Some may escape prosecution due to complex legal circumstances, but if a complaint is filed and our investigation confirms their guilt, we will not spare them,” he said. “Living overseas does not guarantee impunity. Once we establish jurisdiction or locate them, we will take them into custody.”