Hyderabad: Nepal flood donation scams targeted people seeking to help flood victims through fake social media accounts and QR codes. Cybercriminals reportedly used the disaster to collect money from donors through fraudulent channels.
Sudden floods in Nepal on August 26 caused widespread devastation, according to the source. Hundreds of people died, thousands went missing and lakhs were left homeless.
Donations began arriving from across the world to support those affected by the disaster. However, cybercrime groups quickly exploited the situation by creating fraudulent fundraising campaigns.
Criminals created fake pages and groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram and Viber. They reportedly used names linked to the Prime Minister’s disaster relief efforts to make the accounts appear genuine.
The fraudsters also copied official government logos and created fake QR codes. Donors who scanned those codes and transferred money allegedly sent funds to criminals’ personal bank accounts or e-wallets.
Meanwhile, scammers used another method by contacting people directly through phone calls and messages. They sent phishing links and asked victims to submit bank account details and OTPs under the guise of relief registration.
Some fraudsters also reportedly called from international numbers while posing as relatives trapped in the floods. They allegedly claimed to be safe but urgently needed money, using emotional pressure to persuade relatives to transfer funds.
Nepal flood donation scams also used AI-generated receipts
Cybercriminals also reportedly used artificial intelligence technology to make their fraudulent campaigns appear credible. In one case, a person allegedly used ChatGPT to create a fake receipt showing a Rs 1.2 lakh donation to the Prime Minister’s relief fund.
The person reportedly added a personal QR code to the fake receipt and posted it online. Several people in the city believed the claim and transferred money through that QR code.
Police reportedly traced and arrested the person after receiving specific information about the fraud. The case highlighted how fake donation receipts could be combined with QR-code scams to target donors.
ACP Cyber Crimes Hyderabad RG Sivamaruthi advised people to donate only through official channels. He said donors should use only government-announced bank accounts and QR codes for the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund.
He also warned people against suspicious links, QR codes and personal account numbers shared through social media. Donors should never provide OTPs, PINs or debit and credit card details to callers claiming to collect relief contributions.
According to the advisory, people receiving suspicious messages or QR codes should not forward them to others. Instead, they should immediately report the matter at the nearest police station.