Task Scams in Nepal
Fake micro-task and app-rating fraud targeting Nepali users via Telegram and WhatsApp, draining savings through escalating deposit demands.
Part of: Task Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Task scams have spread rapidly through Nepal, promoted in Telegram groups and WhatsApp communities. Young people and those returning from abroad are especially targeted, as the scheme is presented as an opportunity to earn income using only a smartphone while between jobs.
The scam exploits Nepal's growing smartphone penetration and familiarity with digital payment apps, allowing fraudsters to collect deposits and disappear quickly through eSewa, Khalti, or bank transfers.
How this scam works on Nepal
A Telegram invitation arrives promising NPR [amount] per task for simple app ratings and hotel reviews. The first few tasks pay genuinely. Then the operator introduces group tasks requiring a pre-payment deposit to participate in a higher-earning batch.
Each time the victim deposits and completes tasks, the withdrawal is blocked by a new requirement — a membership upgrade, a tax, or a system maintenance fee. The entire deposit is eventually lost.
Some operations in Nepal are run domestically, making them theoretically more traceable by police but also more convincing because they use local payment apps and local phone numbers.
Common red flags
- Telegram or WhatsApp group offering daily task earnings with immediate payout claims
- Small genuine early payments followed by escalating deposit demands
- Withdrawal denied pending a fee described as a government tax or platform charge
- Other group members all report the same convenient success — likely fake accounts
- No verifiable company registration or tax number provided
- Platform accessible only via a web link, not an official app store
How to protect yourself
- Never pay to work — legitimate task platforms earn you money, they do not take it
- Verify any company offering online work through the Department of Industry Nepal
- Warn friends before they join task groups you have identified as fraudulent
- Report suspicious eSewa or Khalti recipient account numbers to the payment platform
- Screenshot all transaction history before blocking a suspected scam operator
- Treat any group where everyone appears to be earning easily as a likely shill operation
How to report it
- Report to Nepal Police Cyber Bureau at cyberbureaunepal.gov.np
- Contact eSewa or Khalti fraud teams directly to flag recipient accounts
- File a complaint at your local district police office with transaction evidence
Frequently asked questions
Can eSewa or Khalti reverse a payment made to a task scammer?
Both platforms have fraud reporting mechanisms. Contact their support immediately after realising you have been scammed — there is a short window in which a reversal may be possible if the funds have not yet been withdrawn. Provide your transaction reference number and all available details about the recipient.