The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a man for allegedly deceiving and blackmailing an American expatriate woman, extorting over Tk1.54crore through online fraud.
The arrestee was Md Salauddin, 29, son of Ma Selim of Chomdar Para in Satkania, Chattogram, according to a press release of CID.
According to the investigation, Salauddin posed as a Canadian expatriate and a widower, introducing himself as ‘Nadim Ahmed Sumon’ on Facebook’s matrimonial page ‘BCCB Matrimonial: Heavenly Match.’
He also involved two accomplices, presenting them as his mother and sister, to gain the victim’s trust.
After arranging a virtual marriage via mobile, Salauddin allegedly pressured the victim to provide financial support under the pretext of traveling to the US.
Later, he secretly recorded objectionable videos of the victim during video calls and threatened to release them online, using the footage to extort money.
The fraud involved multiple bank accounts and mobile payment transfers, totaling over $125,000 (approximately Tk1.54 crore).
Investigations revealed that Salauddin had targeted nearly 50 women in similar schemes. The Cyber Intelligence and Risk Management team of the CID’s Cyber Police Center (CPC) apprehended him on 20 January in Lohagara, Chattogram, while he was in hiding.
Authorities recovered mobile phones and SIM cards as evidence.
The victim’s brother filed the case at Mirpur Model Police Station (DMP) on Wednesday under Penal Code 1860 and the Pornography Control Act, 2012.
Preliminary interrogation indicated that Salauddin admitted to deceiving 80 to 85 women in similar ways. Earlier, he faced similar allegations in a case filed at Mohammadpur Police Station on April 6, 2024. Reports suggest he continued the fraudulent activities even after being released on bail in previous cases.
The CID continues to investigate the case, focusing on identifying accomplices, tracing the full extent of the fraud, and pursuing all legal actions.
