A 32-year-old man in Nepal has been arrested for allegedly using ChatGPT to create a fake document claiming that he had donated NPR 120,000, around Rs 75,000, to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.

The suspect, identified as Bhagwan Karki from Gokulganga Rural Municipality in Ramechhap district, allegedly used the fabricated statement to claim he had contributed towards flood relief before sharing his own QR code on social media.

A fake donation claim appeared online

According to Nepal Police, Karki allegedly created a statement showing the supposed donation and presented it as proof that he had contributed to relief efforts for people affected by recent floods.

The case reportedly came to light after the alleged donation claim was shared publicly, with investigators examining how the document had been produced and used.

Police allege ChatGPT was used

Police said Karki allegedly used ChatGPT in preparing the fake donation statement.

The case highlights how generative artificial intelligence can be misused to create convincing-looking documents and content that may appear genuine to people viewing them online.

The technology itself is not evidence of wrongdoing; the alleged offence relates to how the generated material was reportedly used.

His own QR code raised questions

After allegedly presenting himself as a flood-relief donor, Karki reportedly promoted his personal QR code through social media.

The contrasting claims — a supposed contribution to the government relief fund followed by promotion of his own payment details — became a key part of the police allegations.

A warning for online donors

The incident also serves as a reminder for people responding to disaster appeals online. Donation claims, receipts and payment details can be manipulated, particularly when digital tools make it easier to produce realistic-looking material.

Authorities have increasingly faced challenges in distinguishing genuine relief activity from misleading online appeals, making verification important before sending money or sharing donation claims.