Tourist guides in Nepal, in collusion with trekking companies, rescue helicopter companies, and even hospitals, were found to be involved in insurance scams worth millions of dollars. The scams were linked to the helicopter rescue of climbers at Mount Everest, as per a report.

In a scheme as devious as the treacherous climb to the world’s tallest peak, tour guides are ‘poisoning’ or sometimes in collusion with trekkers, calling for helicopter rescue for insurance scam, claimed the report by The Kathmandu Post.

The scammers are benefitting from the emergency of the remote locations, a scam that first came to light in 2018, and is not slowing down in 2026.

What is the scam?

As reported by the Nepal daily, helicopters are called to rescue ‘trapped’ or ‘sick’ trekkers, checked into hospitals, and exorbitant amounts claimed through insurance, which is then broken down into commissions for all the parties involved, allegedly from helicopter rescue companies, hospitals, tour guides, and sometimes event the ‘sick’ climbers themselves.

Since the rescue and symptoms have surfaced in remote Himalayan regions, the report noted that the events leading to the scams are almost impossible to track from countries where the climbers come from, such as the US, the UK, or Australia. 

Modus operandi

The tourists – some of them reportedly part of the scam or those who simply do not wish to ‘walk back’ from the summit or a cap – are advised to pretend to be sick, in order to call for a helicopter rescue.

The report then notes that even when multiple climbers are rescued by one helicopter, single invoices are procured. Further, fake medical reports and summaries are allegedly procured, sometimes even without the knowledge of doctors, taking the medical bills to skies.

The inflated invoices benefit not only the hospitals, a reported cut of 20-25% also trickles down to the trekking guide company and helicopter rescue firms, as per the report.

“Not all the foreign nationals who come to Nepal for trekking are scam victims. Some of them are willing participants, according to evidence,” the report states.

Troubling cases

While some cases indicate the involvement of the climbers, in some cases, as reported by the Kathmandu Post, climbers are threatened that they will lose their life if helicopter rescue is not called up.

In at least one case, baking powder was allegedly mixed into climbers’ food to induce sickness.

Million-dollar scam

The investigators found 171 fake rescues between 2022 and 2025. During this period, 4,782 foreign nationals were treated in Nepal hospitals, notes the report. 

This indicates that around 3.58% of admissions were fake.

Two hospitals in Nepal, as per the report, received deposits over $15.87 million and $1.22 million, respectively, during 2022-2025.