Key Takeaways:

• Three arrested in Rautahat for Rs 4.98m KYC scam
• Group posed as bank and e wallet staff to steal data
• Police seized cash phones SIM cards and banking documents
• Investigations ongoing with warning to public on fraud risks

BARA, OCTOBER 12 Police have arrested three people, including an Indian national, for allegedly defrauding people of more than Rs 4.98 million by posing as bank and e-wallet employees and tricking victims into sharing their details under the pretext of updating their Know Your Customer (KYC) information. Rautahat police said on Monday that they had received 22 complaints related to the scam so far. Preliminary investigations have revealed that Rs 4,987,333 was stolen, with inquiries continuing into whether the amount was higher. Superintendent of Police Sitaram Rijal said the suspects were arrested during raids in Pokhariya Tole of Gaur Municipality-3 and Koiry Tole of Ward 5 at around 4pm on October 9, following complaints from victims. The arrested have been identified as Mohammad Sahil, 24, originally from Baigania in Sitamarhi district of India's Bihar state and residing in Gaur-3; Saloni Kumari Soni, 22, also residing in the same area; and Nitesh Kushwaha, 18, of Gaur-5. Police are investigating them on charges of fraud and organised crime. How the alleged scam worked According to police, the suspects operated as an organised group, dividing responsibilities among themselves. They allegedly contacted people through different mobile numbers to determine whether they used mobile banking services. After identifying mobile banking users, they posed as employees of banks or eSewa and contacted them by phone or WhatsApp, claiming their KYC details needed updating. They allegedly made video calls, asked victims to share their mobile phone screens and directed them to fill out Google Forms to obtain banking information. Police said the suspects then used the information to gain unauthorised access to victims' bank accounts and digital wallets and transfer money to accounts belonging to relatives or other people, or through QR codes. Investigators also suspect that proceeds from the alleged fraud may have been converted into US dollars, transferred through the Binance app and invested in cryptocurrency. Cash, phones and banking documents seized Police seized Rs 162,210 in Nepali currency and 3,236 Indian rupees from the suspects and related locations, along with seven mobile phones, 11 SIM cards, 30 deposit slips for various banks and financial institutions, three ATM cards, three cheque books, one pen drive and two memory cards. Investigators also recovered diaries and notebooks containing financial records and scripts used when calling account holders and instructing them to share their screens, SP Rijal said. Other seized items included a cheque for Rs 16,000 from Prabhu Bank, a cheque for Rs 2 million from Global IME Bank, and documents containing banking details. Police said they had identified the alleged main planner and other people suspected of involvement and were searching for them. Investigations are continuing into the stolen money, other individuals allegedly involved in transferring the funds and further details of the digital transactions. Rijal urged the public not to share mobile phone screens with unknown callers claiming to represent banks or digital wallets for KYC updates. He also advised people not to disclose one-time passwords (OTPs), PINs, passwords or banking details, and to verify such requests through official bank or digital wallet contact channels. People who have fallen victim to similar scams have been asked to contact the police.