Foreign Lottery Scams in Nepal
Fake international lottery and prize notifications targeting Nepalis with demands for advance processing fees.
Part of: Foreign Lottery Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Foreign lottery scams are a recurring fraud in Nepal, arriving via email, SMS, and Facebook Messenger. Victims are told they have won a draw run by a foreign brand, international NGO, or United Nations affiliate, with prizes ranging from USD [amount] to new vehicles. A processing fee is required before the prize can be released to Nepal.
The scam is effective because international brands are well-known in Nepal, foreign NGO operations are a genuine part of the landscape, and the prize amounts are life-changing relative to local incomes.
How this scam works on Nepal
An email arrives congratulating the recipient on winning a lottery associated with a famous technology company or international charity. The prize is confirmed but a government-authorised release fee must be paid in advance to complete the transfer to a Nepali bank account.
Facebook Messenger variants claim the recipient's phone number was selected in a draw run by a mobile operator or an international remittance service. A QR code for payment is attached.
Repeat contact escalates the fee demand each time, claiming new taxes or customs charges, until the victim refuses to pay more.
Common red flags
- Notification of a prize from a draw you never entered
- Advance processing or release fee required before prize is delivered
- Organisation name sounds official but cannot be verified through any official website
- Email is from a personal domain despite the claimed organisation being a major corporation
- Each payment triggers a new fee requirement
How to protect yourself
- Recognise that legitimate lotteries never require winners to pay fees before receiving a prize
- Delete unsolicited prize notifications without responding
- Verify any named organisation directly through their official published contact details
- Do not share banking details with any claimed prize administrator
- Warn elderly or less digitally experienced family members about these messages
How to report it
- Report to Nepal Police Cyber Bureau at cyberbureaunepal.gov.np
- Alert the named brand or organisation whose name was misused
- Forward scam emails to your email provider for abuse reporting
Frequently asked questions
The prize is attached to a mobile operator or well-known international brand — does that make it more credible?
No — scammers frequently misuse the names of familiar brands and organisations precisely because recognition lowers suspicion. Contact the actual company directly through their official website to confirm whether they're really running any such draw.
Why do I need to pay a 'release fee' if I've genuinely won something?
You don't — legitimate lotteries and prize draws deduct any applicable taxes or fees from the prize itself, or handle them separately through official processes, never by requiring the winner to pay upfront. Any request for advance payment to release a prize confirms the notification is fraudulent.
Can I find out if a foreign lottery prize notification is real?
Contact the organisation named in the notification directly using contact details from their official website — not the details in the email. In almost every case, the organisation will confirm they ran no such draw and the message is fraudulent.