Nepali Woman Arrested in $23,000 U.S. Job Scam as Female Involvement in Trafficking and Fraud Rises in Nepal

Nepal Police have arrested a 45-year-old woman in Kathmandu for allegedly swindling an individual out of 3.5 million Nepali rupees (approximately $26,500) by promising a lucrative job in the United States, authorities said. The arrest comes amid a sharp spike in foreign employment fraud and human trafficking cases across Nepal, with law enforcement officials noting a troubling rise in the number of women involved in such criminal schemes.

Ruku Kumari Shrestha, a resident of Sailung Rural Municipality-2 in Dolakha, was apprehended by the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office. According to Superintendent of Police Sharat Kumar Thapa Chhetri, Shrestha lured the victim with promises of an attractive job in the U.S., collected the money, and then severed all contact. Following a complaint, police tracked down Shrestha and transferred her to the Department of Foreign Employment in Tahachal for further investigation and legal action.

A Growing Trend: Women in Foreign Job Fraud

Data released by Nepal’s Human Trafficking Bureau highlights a growing trend of female involvement in overseas employment scams. Between fiscal year 2020–21 and May 2026, police arrested 1,335 individuals for human trafficking and migration fraud, including 946 men and 389 women. Authorities say perpetrators frequently rely on false assurances of high salaries, free visas, expedited labor approvals, and smooth transit processes to deceive prospective migrants.

Legal experts point to complex economic and social changes as key factors driving more women toward such illicit operations. Lawyer Bhagwati Pandey “Sheetal” said rising internal migration, increasing household financial pressures, and a push for financial independence are compelling many women to seek high-return opportunities. However, a lack of legal and regulatory awareness often steers them toward fraudulent “fast-track” schemes.

The scale of the crisis is reflected in the number of cases recorded over the past five years. During this period, the bureau registered 1,033 human trafficking and migration fraud cases involving 820 female victims and 455 underage girls. In the current fiscal year alone, 247 individuals — including 117 women and 68 girls — have fallen victim to such syndicates, leading to the arrest of 201 suspects, 49 of whom are women.

Nationwide Crackdown Nets Dozens

Shrestha’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown by Nepali authorities. Nepal Police spokesperson Deep Shumsher Rana said surveillance has been intensified to curb scams targeting young Nepalis seeking employment abroad. The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office recently arrested six additional suspects linked to separate international job fraud schemes.

Among them are Lakshmi Thapa Karki, 31, and Priya Baniya, 35, who allegedly targeted individuals seeking jobs in Europe and East Asia. Karki was arrested for taking 1.15 million rupees (about $8,700) to send a victim to Greece, while Baniya allegedly took 200,000 rupees (about $1,500) under the pretext of securing a job in Japan. Both suspects reportedly disappeared after receiving the payments.

In a separate operation, authorities arrested 35-year-old Askar Humagain and an 18-year-old youth accused of defrauding 25 victims of a combined 4.03 million rupees (about $30,500) by promising quick employment and high-paying corporate jobs in Japan.

European transit routes have also been targeted. Pabitra Jung Budhathoki, 45, was arrested for allegedly swindling 230,000 rupees (about $1,750) for a fake job in Malta, while Belumaya Tamang, 41, is accused of a 300,000-rupee (about $2,270) scam promising passage to Serbia.

Separately, police arrested Nitu Ghimire, 40, in connection with a 2.6 million-rupee (about $19,700) U.S. employment scam. Authorities also detained two Indian nationals linked to an unauthorized consultancy, WWICS Immigration Service Nepal, who allegedly defrauded four individuals of 15.76 million rupees (about $119,400) by promising Canadian visas.

Cartels, Captivity, and Warnings

Authorities also highlighted the dangers of bypassing official migration channels through two recent cases investigated by the Human Trafficking Bureau.

In one case, Lokman Khatri, 26, was arrested after a victim spent 14 months in a U.S. detention facility. Khatri allegedly extorted more than 6.5 million rupees (about $49,200) and trafficked the victim through multiple countries — including Dubai, Qatar, Spain, and parts of South and Central America — before the victim was arrested while attempting to cross the U.S. border.

In another case, police arrested Shiv Bahadur Thapa, 44, a ward chairman from Syangja, who allegedly lured a woman into a 6 million-rupee (about $45,450) U.S. travel scheme. Authorities say he trafficked her to Colombia via Dubai and Brazil, where she was held captive for a year and subjected to physical and mental abuse. Thapa is also accused of extorting an additional $98,900 from her family before abandoning her at the Mexico border. She was repatriated to Nepal in April 2026 with assistance from the Nepali Embassy.

The Nepal Police and the Department of Foreign Employment have issued urgent advisories urging citizens to verify job offers, confirm agency licenses, and use only registered manpower companies before handing over passports or money.