Fake WhatsApp Buyers Lure HamroBazar Sellers to Luxury Hotels, Steal Expensive iPhones and iPads

Kathmandu. An emerging scam targeting people selling expensive smartphones and electronic devices through online marketplace HamroBazar is raising concern in Kathmandu, with fraudsters allegedly luring sellers to luxury hotels before fleeing with their devices.

The scam follows a similar pattern. A person contacts sellers through WhatsApp after seeing their listings, negotiates the price and asks them to bring the device to a four- or five-star hotel. After inspecting the item, the suspect claims they want to show it to a girlfriend or wife staying in another room before making the payment.