The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has raided a call centre in Satdobato, Lalitpur, and arrested 53 individuals, including two Indian nationals involved in illegal online gambling activities. This decisive action comes amidst growing concerns over the rise in cybercrimes and illegal online gambling across the country.

Major raid exposes illegal online gambling

The raid, carried out by the CIB, uncovered an online casino operation. Officers seized 85 laptops and 82 mobile phones from the suspects, believed to have been used for running illegal gambling activities. Speaking about the operation, CIB Spokesperson Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hobindra Bogati said, “The 53 persons were arrested on the charge of operating online casino.”

The arrested individuals are currently in custody, with authorities planning to seek an extension of their detention period to delve deeper into the case, explained DSP Bogati. The bust underscores the increasing vigilance of Nepal Police in tackling online criminal activities, which have seen a sharp rise in recent years.

Growing threat of online fraud

The raid comes at a time when the CIB has been actively warning citizens about the escalating threat of online fraud. Earlier this month, the bureau issued a public advisory urging people to stay alert against scams proliferating through popular social media and messaging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Viber, and Imo.

Victims of these scams often receive calls or messages from fraudsters posing as representatives of banks, digital wallets, or financial institutions. These imposters trick individuals into sharing sensitive information such as One-Time Passwords (OTPs), leading to financial losses.

DSP Bogati said, “Complaints about online frauds were reported from various parts of the country, including Pokhara and Chitwan, are currently under investigation.”

Public advisory for cyber safety

The bureau urged people to be wary of unsolicited calls or messages with the increasing number of cybercrimes. Authentication is imperative in such matters since scammers use fake credentials to win the trust of their victims.

In addition, people have been warned against sharing their sensitive information such as OTPs, passwords, and personal details with unknown persons. Reporting any suspicious activities to local authorities within a short period of time is an important measure taken to combat cybercrime.