As a seasoned analyst with years of experience in investigating financial crimes, I find the widespread use of cryptocurrencies for fraudulent activities, particularly in countries like Nepal where they are officially banned, quite intriguing yet alarming. My career path has taken me through various global jurisdictions, and I’ve seen firsthand how technology can be both a boon and a bane for the financial system.
It appears that, even though there’s a formal prohibition on the trade of digital assets in Nepal, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has discovered that cryptocurrencies are frequently employed for organizing internet-based frauds.
In simple terms, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) serves as a specialized division within the Nepal Rastra Bank, our country’s central bank. Its primary role is to vigilantly watch for and combat financial crimes such as money laundering and terrorist financing.
According to a strategic analysis report published on November 18th by the FIU, there’s been a rise in criminal activities using cryptocurrencies as a means to wash ill-gotten gains. The report suggests that crooks are turning their illegal proceeds into cryptocurrencies, making it harder for law enforcement to track and seize these funds.
Transferring cryptocurrencies to offshore accounts increases the difficulty of tracing and apprehending fraudsters due to its intricate nature.
Legal status of crypto hinders fraud reporting
Furthermore, it’s noticed that more Nepalese citizens are becoming victims of deceitful cryptocurrency investment opportunities. These swindlers typically reach out to possible targets via social media or online ads, offering implausible and exceptionally high returns.
Often, the unlawful nature of cryptocurrency transactions dissuades those who’ve been victimized by crypto scams from reporting incidents to the relevant authorities. This is because they may feel embarrassed or concerned about potential backlash. As a consequence, there’s a persistent issue of underreporting in such cases.
Nearly 65% of all fraud reported to Nepal authorities until May 2024 was cyber-enabled.
Preventing crypto fraud through education and transaction monitoring
To combat escalating cyber dangers linked with cryptocurrencies, the Financial Intelligence Unit proposed two crucial strategies:
The authority further recommended increased public awareness to reduce susceptibility to fraud, strengthening inter-agency cooperation and updating regulatory frameworks to address digital payment fraud.
To combat financial fraud involving cryptocurrencies, similar to other countries, South Korea’s Finance Minister, Choi Sang-Mok, announced plans to implement regulations requiring reporting of cross-border crypto transactions. This was discussed at a G20 meeting held in Washington D.C., United States.
In light of the new regulations, any company facilitating international crypto transactions is required to register with the proper authorities in advance and submit a detailed report on these activities to the Bank of Korea every month.
Read More
- CTK PREDICTION. CTK cryptocurrency
- CRV PREDICTION. CRV cryptocurrency
- CTXC PREDICTION. CTXC cryptocurrency
- OKB PREDICTION. OKB cryptocurrency
- ZIG PREDICTION. ZIG cryptocurrency
- IMX PREDICTION. IMX cryptocurrency
- EUR JPY PREDICTION
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- USD VES PREDICTION
- TNSR PREDICTION. TNSR cryptocurrency
2024-11-18 13:40