NMB Bank Issues Urgent Warning Against Fake Online Surveys and Scams

31st October 2025, Kathmandu

NMB Bank, a consistently recognized leader in Nepal’s banking sector, has issued an urgent public service announcement to actively warn its customers and the general public against a rapidly circulating and highly deceptive new wave of digital fraud.

NMB Bank Issues Warning

These fraudulent schemes, which aggressively misuse the bank’s brand identity, are attempting to lure victims with false promises of cash rewards, typically claiming recipients can secure a substantial NPR 10,000 cash bonus merely by participating in a fake online survey. The bank’s decisive action emphasizes the necessity of extreme vigilance in Nepal’s evolving digital banking environment, where cybercriminals are constantly developing more convincing tactics to steal personal and financial data.

The Mechanics of Deception: Recognizing the Fraud

The fraudulent activity is being executed across various digital channels, including social media platforms and unverified websites. These deceptive campaigns employ sophisticated phishing and imposter tactics to clone the NMB Bank’s visual identity, logo, and communication style, making the offers appear authentic to the unsuspecting user.

The False Promise of Easy Money: The core lure—the promise of a large cash bonus for a simple survey—is a classic “too good to be true” strategy designed to bypass the user’s critical thinking. By creating a compelling sense of urgency and reward, the scammer hopes the victim will act quickly without verifying the offer’s legitimacy.

The Data Harvesting Goal: The sole purpose of these fake surveys is to act as a data harvesting tool. Once a user clicks the malicious link, they are directed to a spoofed page where they are prompted to enter not just personal details, but often confidential banking information, login credentials, or even One-Time Passwords (OTPs) under the guise of “verification” or “prize processing.”

High Risk of Identity Theft: Providing such sensitive information to these fraudulent platforms exposes the user to immediate risks of identity theft and unauthorized financial transactions, directly compromising their bank accounts and digital wallets. NMB Bank categorically denies any affiliation with these circulating posts and has confirmed that it has not launched any such survey, bonus offer, or promotional campaign requiring this kind of interaction.

NMB Bank’s Defensive Strategy and Official Verification Channels

NMB Bank, which holds a reputation for strong governance and has been proactive in implementing robust security measures like PCI DSS Compliance for card transactions and comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering (AML) policies, relies heavily on customer education as a primary defense against these Cyber Enabled Frauds (CEF). The bank has provided clear guidelines on its only trustworthy communication channels.

The Source of Truth: Customers must only trust official updates and banking communications disseminated through verified sources. These are the bank’s official website (www.nmb.com.np), its verified social media pages, and dedicated customer service lines. NMB Bank stresses that legitimate offers or security alerts will never direct customers to an external, unverified link to provide credentials.

Immediate Contact Points: For security concerns or assistance related to digital services, NMB Bank has specific, safe contact numbers, including the Customer Service Center at 01-5970150 and the specialized support line for mobile and card services at 9851176101, or via email at [email protected]. Customers are encouraged to contact [email protected] immediately if they notice any suspicious activity on their accounts or devices.

The Wider Context of Digital Fraud in Nepal

The warning from NMB Bank aligns with the broader concerns expressed by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) and the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau, which have noted a significant increase in financial scams following the acceleration of digital banking. A common typology of fraud involves scammers exploiting vulnerabilities in bulk SMS services, sending messages that mimic official alerts—such as “Your account will be locked in 6 hours”—to induce panic and force users to click on malicious links leading to spoofed bank login pages.

The Vulnerability Gap: While general awareness of cyber threats is increasing among Nepali bank customers, a persistent gap remains between theoretical awareness and practical cybersecurity behavior. Fraudsters capitalize on this gap, targeting both technologically less-aware seniors and even younger individuals with specific lures like fake investment opportunities or compromised social media emergency requests.

Collective Responsibility: NMB Bank emphasizes that combating this threat is a shared responsibility. The most effective way to protect oneself and the community is through active awareness and non-participation. Users must adopt the practice of never sharing their banking credentials, PINs, or OTPs through unofficial links, third-party websites, or responding to unsolicited requests.

By staying cautious, utilizing strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and relying exclusively on verified bank channels, customers can significantly fortify their defenses against this growing tide of digital deception. NMB Bank continues to provide the technological safeguards, but the ultimate responsibility for data protection begins with the conscious choices of the user.

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