Ncell has stated that recent incidents of online fraud are not due to technical errors, but rather due to 'social engineering' that takes advantage of human nature and weaknesses.

According to the company, most of the recent frauds such as OTP scams, impersonation by misusing the names and photos of artists and influencers, and blackmailing are forms of social engineering . 

For some time now, there has been an increasing trend of misusing the names and photos of artists and influencers to ask for money and defraud close people through platforms like WhatsApp and Viber . Responding to this issue, telecommunications service provider Ncell has stated that user awareness is the strongest solution .

Stating that with increased access to data and social media, it has become easier for fraudsters and people with bad intentions to engage in activities prohibited by law, Ncell has stated that if a number is found to be involved in unauthorized use, it is blocked in accordance with the law .

‘Many fraud-related issues are beyond the control of the telecom service provider,’ the company said, ‘Ncell has been implementing regulatory and internal processes to combat such issues. However, user awareness and responsible usage are the key solutions to this problem. It is important for customers to be vigilant in their online activities and be aware of common fraud methods.’

Ncell has clarified that complaints of SIM card misuse or fraud require strong evidence and that the victim must first file a formal complaint with the police. The company has then stated that it will take necessary action only after receiving an official letter from the government authorities. “If someone feels they have been the target of online fraud, they should first ensure that no one else has access to their phone or SIM card,” the company suggested. “Then, check their financial transactions, update passwords for email, banking and social media accounts.” It has asked them to enable multi-factor authentication and report the incident to their telecom service provider, bank and police.

The company has clarified that complaints received by Ncell will also be forwarded to the relevant OTT provider. It has also suggested using these apps as they have a facility to report fraud and scams directly. In the case of OTT platforms like WhatsApp and Viber, Ncell says that these apps operate outside the control of telecom companies.

‘Even if the SIM card is switched off or blocked, fraudsters can still access the app account linked to that number,’ Ncell said in a conversation with Kantipur. ‘With the rapid development in technology, especially artificial intelligence and satellite connectivity, many services are operating outside national borders and regulatory control, making it challenging to fully manage it.’

To prevent misuse of SIM cards, Ncell has said that it is conducting cybersecurity awareness programs in collaboration with the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, police, schools and media, urging people to use only SIMs registered in their own names.

The company claims to monitor the network 24/7, detect suspicious activities in real time, and inform users about the risks of fraud through SMS alerts and public notices.

According to the company, most frauds are a form of ‘social engineering’, so it is necessary to increase customer awareness about cybersecurity.

According to Bhojraj Ghimire, Head of the School of Technology at Nepal Open University and Assistant Professor, Social Engineering, is the method of obtaining someone's username, password, OTP, link or any information by intimidating, deceiving, luring or emotionally influencing them.

'If you have to eavesdrop on someone's house, you can do it by showing them the same pain as them or by interrupting the person you don't like. Adopting similar methods in the digital world is called social engineering,' Professor Ghimire said in an interview with Kantipur. 'People look over your shoulder or from the side at the laptop or mobile you use in public places, and stealing information in this way is also social engineering.' In this, instead of hacking any technology or software, the style of hacking people's trust is adopted.