31st October 2025, Kathmandu
Global IME Bank Limited, a leading institution and recent recipient of the prestigious “Best Bank Award 2025,” has issued a crucial and urgent public notice warning its customers and the wider public against a severe increase in digital scams being executed under the bank’s name.
Global IME Issues Warning
These malicious attempts, often masquerading as promotional offers or online surveys with tempting claims like “Receive NPR 10,000 by completing a survey,” are entirely fraudulent. The bank’s decisive action underscores the escalating sophistication of cybercrime in Nepal, necessitating heightened digital literacy and caution from all citizens.
The Anatomy of the Phishing Attack: A Detailed Look
The circulating fake advertisements are highly deceptive, utilizing the bank’s official name, logo, and brand identity across various unofficial platforms, including spurious websites and cloned social media pages. These scams are classic examples of phishing attacks designed to exploit user trust and technical vulnerabilities. The fraudsters’ goal is singular and destructive: to steal confidential data and carry out unauthorized transactions.
The Deceptive Bait: The scam initiates with a lure—a fake bonus or cash prize—designed to create an immediate sense of excitement and urgency. This psychological pressure is key to preventing users from pausing to verify the offer’s legitimacy.
The Malicious Redirect: Victims are then encouraged to click on malicious links that redirect them to a spoofed login page or a fraudulent form. These fake sites are visually identical to official bank portals, making the deception convincing.
The Critical Data Theft: Once on the fake site, users are tricked into providing sensitive financial details. Global IME Bank emphasizes the critical data that should never be shared with unverified sources: bank account information, passwords, and One-Time Passwords (OTPs). This information is the “key” that allows cybercriminals to bypass security protocols and drain accounts.
Global IME Bank unequivocally states that it has not launched any survey, cash reward scheme, or promotional offer currently linked to these circulated messages. Any communication received outside of official, verified channels must be treated with the utmost suspicion and classified as fraudulent.
Global IME Bank’s Proactive Defense and Digital Commitment
As a major financial player in the Nepalese market, Global IME Bank has a robust commitment to cybersecurity, which extends beyond issuing warnings. The bank, which serves all 77 districts with an extensive network of over 1,000 service outlets, recognizes that its operational excellence must be matched by uncompromised digital security.
Technology and Compliance: The bank is continually working to implement advanced security protocols to safeguard its digital infrastructure and payment systems. This adherence to high-level security is a requirement enforced by regulatory bodies like Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), which has issued comprehensive guidelines on cyber resilience and fraud prevention. The NRB’s directives emphasize integrating continuous improvement in cyber risk identification, protection, and response mechanisms.
Education as a Defense Layer: By issuing these public notices, Global IME Bank actively participates in the necessary effort of digital financial literacy. The most secure technology can be bypassed by human error, making customer awareness the most crucial defense layer against sophisticated scams like SMS phishing (where attackers use compromised bulk SMS services to send fake alerts) and Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud (where the victim is tricked into willingly authorizing a payment to a fraudster).
Heightened Risks in Nepal’s Digital Ecosystem
The banking industry’s push towards digitalization, while convenient, has been accompanied by a rapid increase in Cyber Enabled Fraud (CEF) cases in Nepal. Reports from the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police indicate a rise in attacks where fraudsters use urgency—such as fake warnings about an “account suspension”—to force users into clicking on dangerous links or downloading malicious apps like those disguised as loan calculators or security verification tools.
Nepal Rastra Bank’s own analyses highlight that fraudsters often use multiple accounts across various banks and payment service providers to collect illicit funds, making prompt reporting and inter-bank coordination essential. The current wave of fake survey scams is a variation of the imposter scam, a typology that leverages the victim’s trust in a reputable brand like Global IME Bank.
Immediate Action for Customer Safety
Global IME Bank urges every customer to internalize the following critical safety measures:
Stop and Verify: Never click on a suspicious link, download attachments, or fill out personal details in a pop-up or survey from an unverified source. Always assume a high-reward offer is a scam.
Protect Confidentiality: Never disclose your passwords, PINs, or especially your OTPs to anyone—not even someone claiming to be a bank employee, a friend, or a family member who is in “urgent need.” Legitimate bank staff will never ask for these details.
Use Official Channels Only: Verify the authenticity of any communication only through the bank’s established, official contact points.
For official inquiries, assistance, or to report any suspected fraudulent activity, please contact Global IME Bank immediately: Contact Number: +977-1-5970600 or Email: globalconnect@gibl.com.np.
By remaining alert and following these safety protocols, customers and the public can collectively combat digital fraud, ensuring the continued security and growth of Nepal’s digital financial landscape.
For More: Global IME Issues Warning