NN Online:
Bangladesh Bank has issued an urgent directive alerting all non-bank financial institutions about a surge in fraudulent activities involving individuals posing as Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officials to extort money.
The central bank urged institutions to seek immediate help from local administration and law enforcement if anyone attempts to intimidate or solicit bribes using the names of the ACC Chairman, Commissioners, or other officials.
This warning follows similar directives recently issued by the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Finance.
According to the circular, fraudsters are contacting individuals by phone or in person, falsely claiming to represent the ACC, and threatening arrest, investigation, or legal action unless money is paid. These impersonation tactics have caused many citizens to fall victim to extortion.
Bangladesh Bank stressed the need for heightened vigilance among financial institutions to prevent such scams and take prompt action against suspected fraud.
Although impersonation scams are not new, officials say the frequency of these incidents has risen sharply in recent weeks. The public is also being urged to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
The move comes shortly after the June 30 arrest of four individuals allegedly involved in an impersonation racket. The arrests followed a Facebook post by National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah, who accused fake ACC officials of demanding bribes.
The ACC later confirmed the arrests, stating the group had been promising to settle cases in exchange for money.
