Samjhana Sharma (name changed), a woman from Syangja, never imagined a Facebook friend request would turn her life upside down. In August 2080 BS, she was casually scrolling through Facebook using WiFi from a neighbor’s house when a request from a stranger named Robert Alexander popped up. His profile had only one friend and a polished foreign look. She accepted it out of curiosity.
When Robert messaged her, she couldn’t understand the English text. So, she replied that she only understood Nepali. Surprisingly, he responded in Nepali and claimed to be a Brazilian pilot who could speak the language. Their chats turned friendly and lasted for three to four months. Robert shared stories about his struggles, saying he lived with his mother and lost his father early.
From Chat to Crime: The Bank Account Request
During Dashain, Robert said he wanted to visit Nepal and needed a Nepali bank account to exchange money. Samjhana, who had recently opened an account at the advice of a cousin working in a bank, was hesitant. But Robert promised help and even mentioned taking her to Brazil someday. Trusting him, she agreed to send her ATM card and SIM through a courier to his “relatives” in India. She even borrowed Rs. 500 to send it.
After a few days, Robert said he received the items and asked her to open another account. But she denied it, saying she had no money. Their conversation slowly ended. Eventually, she could no longer message him, and his profile disappeared.
Police Call Revealed the Shocking Truth
Months later, on 28th Baisakh, Samjhana’s mother received a call from the police. Samjhana had unknowingly become part of a fraud. Robert was using her bank account and SIM to scam others via WhatsApp—promising luxury gifts in return for money. Over Rs. 10 lakhs had passed through her account, and one victim had already filed a case. She had no idea until police informed her.
Samjhana showed Robert’s photo to the police, hoping to catch him. But a reverse image search revealed it was actually a photo of Canadian actor James Tupper, not a real person.
Another Victim: How “Dr. Richmond” Fooled Anu
Anu Shrestha (name changed) went through a similar trap. A year ago, she accepted a Facebook request from someone named Dr. Richmond Herald. Their chats moved to WhatsApp, and he eventually proposed to her. He said he was a German citizen but worked as a doctor in the UK.
After three months of sweet talk, he said he had come to Delhi for work and urgently needed a Nepali bank account to receive hospital equipment payments. When Anu asked why he needed a Nepali account, he dismissed it as a small issue.
Anu, like Samjhana, was nearly convinced. These fraudsters all follow a similar pattern—building emotional trust, then using it to extract personal and banking information.
What’s Really Happening Behind the Scenes?
These foreign-sounding “friends” aren’t real. They use stolen images and AI tools to create attractive fake profiles. Once they gain trust, they trick people into giving away SIM cards and bank access. The accounts are then used to scam others by offering expensive gifts, all while routing the money through innocent locals’ accounts.
Innocent people like Samjhana and Anu face legal trouble, police calls, and emotional trauma—just for trusting someone who never existed.
Stay Safe Online
- Never share your bank or SIM details with anyone online.
- Be cautious about foreign friend requests.
- Report suspicious messages immediately.
- Check profile pictures with Google Reverse Image Search if in doubt.