Fake Charity Scams in Nepal
Fraudulent charity appeals exploiting Nepal earthquake and poverty narratives to steal donations from diaspora and international donors.
Part of: Fake Charity Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Nepal's history of major earthquakes and its international profile as a poverty-affected country make it a persistent target for fake charity fraud. After the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, thousands of fraudulent donation campaigns appeared online, collecting funds that never reached earthquake survivors. Similar patterns emerge after each natural disaster or humanitarian appeal.
Nepalese diaspora members in the UK, USA, Australia, and Gulf countries are particularly targeted because their combination of income, cultural connection, and geographic distance makes verification difficult.
How this scam works on Nepal
Social media posts circulate photographs of damaged buildings or children in distress, requesting donations to a Facebook page or a PayPal account. The organisation has no registration number with the Social Welfare Council (SWC) of Nepal and the photographs are unattributed.
In disaster situations, fraudsters create new accounts within hours of a news event, driving traffic through emotional first responders sharing content before any verification is possible.
Digiaspora-targeted appeals use WhatsApp chains with personal testimonials from apparent community members vouching for the organisation, making the social proof seem compelling.
Common red flags
- Charity cannot provide a Social Welfare Council (SWC) Nepal registration number
- Appeal relies primarily on WhatsApp chain sharing rather than official channels
- Donation requested to a personal PayPal or bank account
- Organisation was created very recently in response to a news event
- No financial reporting, annual accounts, or named trustees available
How to protect yourself
- Verify SWC registration at swc.org.np before donating to any Nepal-based charity
- Use established international humanitarian organisations for disaster response
- Ask for a registration certificate before donating
- Search the organisation name with the word scam or fraud before contributing
- Prefer organisations with a history of operations in Nepal rather than newly created accounts
How to report it
- Report to the Social Welfare Council Nepal at swc.org.np
- File with Nepal Police Cyber Bureau if the fraud occurred online
- Alert the platform (Facebook, WhatsApp) with specific evidence of fraud
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify a Nepal charity is registered?
Check the Social Welfare Council (SWC) Nepal register at swc.org.np. Registered organisations hold an affiliation certificate that must be renewed regularly. If an organisation cannot provide this number, it is not officially registered to solicit donations in Nepal.