The Cyber ​​Bureau of Nepal Police has arrested 11 people on charges of fraud through a mobile app called SMC App. The bureau said in a press release that the arrests include 11 people, including a Chinese citizen.

It has been revealed that they have been collecting huge amounts of money from the general public by downloading the SMC app by showing the lure of lucrative earnings through social media and online advertisements. Preliminary police investigation has revealed that this group has defrauded 7,000 general public of Rs 128 million 16372.

However, the victims have said that more than Rs 60 million were defrauded from Phalelung Rural Municipality-2 of Panchthar district alone. The victims have said that more than Rs 30 million were defrauded from various local levels of the district, including Phalelung-6 and 2 of Panchthar.

The news titled ‘Hundreds of people were defrauded by showing the lure of easy earnings through SMC app’ was published by Ikantipur on Mangsir 16.

After the news of the fraud was published in various editions of Kantipur, the victims started filing complaints with the police. According to a statement issued by Cyber ​​Bureau Spokesperson and Information Officer Deepak Raj Awasthi, the Cyber ​​Bureau had received 255 applications alleging that they were defrauded from the SMC app. The statement states that during the investigation into those applications, it was found that the gang had created false company registration documents and established an office under the name Advertising Service Center Pvt. Ltd. to defraud citizens across the country.

According to the Cyber ​​Bureau, Milan Shrestha, 21, of Ramechhap Municipality-7, Kathmandu, Saugat Thapa, 19, of Tanahun Bandipur-3, Kathmandu, Bir Bahadur Tamang, 33, of Nuwakot Kispang-4, Kathmandu, Priya KC, 23, of Chitwan Khairhani Municipality-6, Monika Gurung, 22, of Gulmi Kaligandaki-7, Gulmi, Geeta Gurung, 21, of Dhading Ganga Jamuna-3, Nasirmia Ansari, 37, of Parsa Birgunj-1, Saraya Khatun, 66, of Birgunj-4, and Ram Prasad Kalbar, 67, of Bara Kalaiya-1, have been arrested. The Cyber ​​Bureau arrested them on different dates from Poush 2 to 18.

According to the Cyber ​​Bureau, the group involved in the fraud had encouraged the general public to invest in the SMC app, claiming that it was related to an international company and would provide certain profits from stock market and crypto trading. However, the police have stated that the app is not registered with any official body and its activities are completely illegal.

During the investigation, the police said that it was found that the accused used digital wallets, bank accounts and QR codes to collect money, and also created a structure to pay commission for bringing in additional members in the name of ‘level system’.

It is preparing to file a case against the arrested persons for fraud and organized crime. In addition, the general public has been warned not to fall for such attractive profit offers through online investments, apps, websites or social media.

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