The Cyber Police Centre (CPC) unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a member of an organised fraud ring that embezzled large sums of money from people by luring them with promises of easy online earnings through completing “tasks”.
The arrested individual has been identified as Md Harun Or Rashid (29), from Burunga, post office Jalalpur, Melandah police station, Jamalpur district.
According to preliminary investigation, the fraud ring used attractive advertisements and tempting messages on social media to lure victims with promises of easy income. They would gradually take money from victims under the pretext of completing online “tasks”. Such “tasks” included liking or sharing specific posts, or carrying out various activities using apps or links.
At the initial stage, the fraudsters gained the victims’ trust by paying small amounts for completing minor tasks. Later, they enticed victims to invest larger sums with promises of higher returns for completing bigger tasks, collecting money through various mobile financial services (MFS) and bank accounts.
Initial findings show that the group embezzled a total of Tk1,10,58,305 from victims using four bKash numbers and nine separate bank accounts.
After a victim lodged a complaint on the CID Cyber Police Centre’s Facebook page, the CID conducted a preliminary review and advised filing a case at the nearest police station. Accordingly, on 21 May 2025, a case (No. 14) was filed at Lalbagh Police Station under sections 406/420/34 of the Penal Code, 1860. The CID later took over the case and began investigation.
As part of the probe, the CID collected information on the relevant bank accounts, identified the suspects, and took legal measures to prevent them from travelling abroad. Following a court order, the suspects’ passports were seized and restrictions were imposed on their travel outside Bangladesh.
Subsequently, on 18 April 2026, suspect Md Harun Or Rashid (29) was detained by immigration police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his arrival in Bangladesh from Malaysia. The following day, 19 April 2026, he was formally arrested from Airport Police Station and taken into CID custody.
During primary interrogation after his arrest, the accused confessed to his involvement in the fraud and provided information about several other individuals linked to the incident.
The arrested accused has been sent to court, and the CID’s investigation is ongoing to identify and arrest the other suspects involved.
