Summary:

• Incident: 52 people, including six Chinese nationals, were arrested by Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
• Charges: They are accused of running an illegal online scam involving a dating app and unauthorized cryptocurrency trading.
• Modus Operandi: The group operated under the guise of a registered tech company called Social Software Development Company Pvt Ltd. They ran fake call centers and a dating app named METOO Dating App.
• Target: Young Nepali women were lured through fake online dating profiles, then manipulated into unregulated cryptocurrency schemes promising high returns.
• Location: Operations were based in rented houses at Damkal Chowk, Lalitpur Metropolitan City (Ward 4) and Chagal, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (Ward 13).
• Chinese Nationals Identified: Zhang Lun (29), Chen Jiahao (27), Lin De (41), Xu Zheng (32), Liu Zexuan (30), Xu Linghua (33). They are believed to be key operators.
• Evidence Seized: Rs 13,999,950 cash, 54 mobile phones, and 7 laptops.
• Current Status: The six Chinese nationals have been formally charged under Nepali digital currency laws; investigations on the other 46 Nepali suspects are ongoing.
• Police Warning: Public is urged to be cautious and avoid involvement with unregulated or suspicious online platforms, especially those linked to online dating and cryptocurrencies.

Archive: https://archive.md/5BY6v