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
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.