A fake page active on social media has posed a risk by calling for registration of numbers, claiming that Uber service will be launched in Kathmandu.
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Amidst the buzz about the American ride-hailing company Uber coming to Nepal, social media pages and websites like 'Uber Nepal' and 'Uber Nepal- Book Cab' have been created to promote vehicle and driver registration. Drivers have been urged to register their numbers through a website and Facebook page called 'UberNepal.co', saying 'Official launch in Kathmandu'. Rumors have been spread that 'Uber driver onboarding' has started in the Kathmandu Valley.
In such promotions on social media, drivers have been lured with the idea of earning on their own schedule. The Ncell number and Chabahil location have been provided on the Facebook page called 'Uber Nepal'. When Kantipur contacted the said number to find out about this, the concerned party claimed that they are currently in the 'technology testing' phase of Uber in Nepal and that only the driver registration process is being taken forward. He hastily hung up the phone, refusing to reveal his identity, and has deactivated his Facebook page after Kantipur's interest. According to the Department of Industry, no formal foreign investment or registration application has been received from Uber so far. 'Although there is talk that Uber is interested in coming to Nepal, no formal application has been received by the Department of Industry so far,' said Prashant Bohara, director of the department's Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Branch. 'We have just come to know about the matter being circulated on social media, we are studying it.'
A page claiming to be 'Uber Nepal', which was available on social media until a while ago, had attracted the attention of many. Users were showing interest in inquiring about it and registering. The 'sponsored' post of the said page, i.e. an advertisement promoted with money, had hundreds of comments and engagements. The page named 'Uber Nepal- Book Cab' currently has 13,000 followers. Such fake pages do not have Uber's official business email, but a Gmail address.
The website created with the claim that Uber is coming to Nepal also says '© 2025 UberNepal'. Official Uber websites have copyright protected in the name of 'Uber Technologies Inc.'. In addition, Uber has been using the main Uber brand rather than adding a separate country name as a new company when expanding its service to any country. Although social media icons are placed on the website for contact, they do not lead to any official page, and the message 'will be launched soon' is displayed.
Such propaganda launched on social media has put consumers and drivers at risk and confused. The website named UberNepal even has a countdown date for Uber to come to Kathmandu. According to which it is mentioned that it will come in 21 days.
Uber's basic concept has been to allow private cars to be used for commercial ride-hailing. However, in Nepal, the issue of whether or not private vehicles (red plates) can be used for rent has been under debate for a long time. The federal government is preparing to issue standards to regulate ride-hailing services.
