AVOID THESE COMMON SCAMS & CORRUPTION IN NEPAL

Nepalese people are generally very honest and hospitable towards visitors to the country. However, in recent years, there have been a number of crime-related scams that are targeted at tourists.

• Bribes and Corruption
• Common Scams
• Theft in Nepal
• Child Protection

Bribes and Corruption

There are a number of checkpoints run by the police in Kathmandu and throughout Nepal. Sometimes, attempts are made close to these border posts to extort money from foreigners. Another increasing problem are the attempts to set up partnerships with foreign visitors. These typically involve financial assistance exporting goods or establishing shipping routes and promise large returns which never materialise.

Travelers should be vigilant and avoid offering to carry jewelry to a business contact overseas. This has resulted in some getting heavy fines at the border. The local police should be informed about requests to carry items, however, the reality is that the authorities are under-resourced and many crimes go unresolved.

Drugs and drug smuggling is taken very seriously with heavy fines and custodial sentences if caught. Even small amounts of marijuana can result in a five-year jail sentence. Never get involved in drugs in Nepal.

It is also important to thoroughly research any voluntary or charitable organization that you are considering, as several organizations have taken money from well-meaning volunteers. The Social Service Council of Nepal has a list of bona fide organizations.

Want to know more about Nepal? Head to our Stories section to delve a little deeper.

Common Scams

Always keep your credit card with you and do not let it out of your sight when making purchases. Travelers have returned to find thousands of dollars of internet porn charges on their cards after it had been skimmed. When taking a taxi, ask the driver to use the meter. Many refuse and then try and charge exorbitant rates, so agree the fare before you get into the cab.

Another common scam in Nepal is that a child approaches tourists and asks them to buy some milk for a baby. When the tourist goes to the shop, they are charged an inflated sum of money and the milk is then returned by the scammer to the shop where both share in the profits. One way of breaking the scam is to open the bottle for the child, which will then benefit the children.

There are some dance bars in Nepal, particularly in Kathmandu, where tourists are charged large amounts for drinks and harassed. It is also advisable not to leave any drinks unattended because drink spiking, leading to robbery, does happen.

Theft in Nepal

Theft is becoming a big problem in Nepal and there have been incidents of trekkers being confronted by groups of men demanding money, as well as muggings and robbery in the cities. When in Nepal, visitors should be vigilant as to where their belongings are and not have valuables on display.

Festival season between October and November sees a proportionate increase of crime in Nepal.

Child Protection

It’s very important that parents don’t leave children with people they don’t know. There have been occasional cases of molestation and a report of non-investigation by the authorities. Nepal still has some challenges with child labour, where small children can be seen on building sites and factories.

Nepal is a beautiful country, but also one of the poorest in the world. In general, visitors are made very welcome; however, it pays to exercise some vigilance.