Robbed or scammed in Nepal — what to do

If you have been robbed

• Freeze cards and mobile wallets immediately, from any borrowed device.
• If your phone went too, block the SIM through your operator — only the registered owner can do this.
• Report to the police, and in tourist districts specifically to the Tourist Police on 1144. Get a written report and photograph it.
• Note exactly what was taken, with serial numbers where you have them, and estimated values. Insurers require this.
• If your passport was taken, that becomes the priority — it has its own multi-step process.
• Tell your hotel. They may have CCTV, and in a guesthouse theft they will usually take it very seriously.

Being realistic about recovery

The trekking and tour scams

• The unregistered agency — a booking taken in cash by someone with a shopfront and no registration, who then delivers a cheaper trek than sold, an unlicensed guide, or nothing at all. Book only with agencies registered with the Nepal Tourism Board, check TAAN membership, and pay traceably.
• The 'free' upgrade that appears on the bill — always confirm in writing exactly what the price includes: permits, guide, porter, their insurance, transport, accommodation category.
• Helicopter rescue fraud — pressure to evacuate for symptoms that a rest day would fix, sometimes with inflated billing to your insurer. Have a clinician make the medical call and contact your insurer before authorising.
• The fake guide who approaches you on the trail or at a bus park. Licensed guides carry a licence card with a photo; ask to see it.
• Cash-only deposits with no receipt. Always get a receipt with the company's name and registration on it.

The city scams

• The gem or handicraft 'export opportunity' — you are told you can resell stones or goods at a large profit at home. You cannot; the goods are worth a fraction of what you paid. This scam has run in South Asia for decades.
• The taxi with a 'broken' meter, or the long route. Agree the fare before getting in, or use a ride-hailing app where the price is fixed in advance.
• The friendly stranger with an elaborate story — a sick relative, a scholarship, a temple donation. Generosity is fine; large cash sums to strangers are not.
• The holy man who blesses you unasked and then demands payment, common around Pashupatinath and Durbar Squares. A firm 'no thank you' before contact is made prevents it.
• ATM issues — card skimming and rigged machines exist. Use machines inside bank branches during opening hours, cover the keypad, and check your account afterwards.
• Overcharging at unmarked shops and restaurants. Prices in Nepal are usually displayed; if there is no price list, ask before ordering.

Money handling that avoids most of it

• Carry the day's cash in a pocket and the rest elsewhere. Never open a full wallet in public.
• Split your money: some in the hotel safe, some on you, an emergency reserve somewhere separate again.
• Use registered exchange counters, not street changers — and count the money before leaving the counter.
• Prefer traceable payment for anything substantial: bank transfer or card for treks and tours, so there is a record.
• Do not carry your passport around day to day unless you need it. A photocopy and another photo ID covers most situations.
• Be wary of anyone who creates urgency. Every scam needs you to decide quickly; every legitimate transaction survives you thinking about it overnight.

Insurance claims that actually pay