Rich people are their main target

Foreign fraudsters active in Bangladesh

Special Correspondent: Rich people including garment traders, importers, exporters, bankers and owners of different supplying companies are the main target for the foreign fraudsters.
Though, the law enforcers have beefed up surveillance about them, they are continuing to embezzle crores of Taka through their collaborators in Bangladesh by weaving a net of deception outside the country.
Most of the fraudsters are using the social media Facebook,Viber, Imo, Messenger and WhatsApp to develop link with the victims. The fraudsters have chosen these means to fool the eyes of the law enforcement agencies. Multiple cycles that are active, divided into two parts at home and abroad. They are manipulating dollars and money in various ways including buying garments and sometimes herbal products.
Detective Cyber and Special Crime Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has received shocking information about their fraudulent activities after the recent arrest of two members of such a ring.
DMP’s Intelligence Branch (DB) officials said, a garment trader and the owner of a supplying company recently filed two separate cases after being deceived.
DB in a drive recently arrested two fraudsters during the investigation of those cases. One of them is a citizen of Cameroon. Foreign fraudsters are using some Bangladeshis for financial gain. Besides, many foreign members of the clique are coming to Bangladesh under various pretexts and continuing to cheat. The cycle members are taking crores of Takaby fraud.
Several senior law enforcement officials said that, members of foreign fraudsters were being arrested at various times in the country. Many of them are staying in Bangladesh illegally and are involved in various types of fraud. Their deception is going on with all the new tactics. Earlier, after making friends on Facebook under false pretenses, the gangs cheated by sending so-called gifts and paying a fee to get the gift released from the airport. But recently their style of cheating has changed. The cycle members are setting traps by targeting rich businessmen.
Ashraf Ullah, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of DB’s Cyber and Special Crimes Division said, “Some foreign fraudsters are targeting rich businessmen of the country. They have been active for some time. Many members of the clique (foreign nationals) are staying in Bangladesh. Besides, they also have Bangladeshi associates.”
He further said, “Earlier, a member of the gang named Abul Hossain was arrested. He used to help foreign fraudsters. The latest arrested Cameroonian national has been remanded in custody for two days.”
Ahsan Habib Nasim, the owner of a supplying company in Banani area of the capital, was the victim of a similar scam.
Quoting the arrested Abul Hossain, DB investigators informed that, a foreigner had taken the money from various mobile banking agents through Abul Hossain. In this case, he would get 10 percent of the total money.
He informed the police that, rich people are the main target of fraudsters. The foreigners develop relation with the rich men through social media and then grab money from them through various tactics. Many Bangladeshi citizens help them in this purpose for the commission.
Md. Kamruzzaman, AIG (media) of Police Headquarters said, “Police are working to trace and nab them. If we get specific information about them, we will able to nab them easily. Besides, surveillance has been geared up by the law enforcement agencies to prevent their activities.”