2 held in Tk5cr online investment scam

Staff Reporter :

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police has arrested two members of a suspected organised gang, including its alleged ringleader, for defrauding people of nearly Tk5 crore through an online investment scam.

The CID confirmed the arrests in a press release on Friday.
According to the CID, the gang lured victims by creating fake investment groups on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, posing as representatives of foreign companies and promising high short-term returns.

In the early hours of 6 November, a CID team from the Dhaka Metro East Division arrested the suspected ringleader, Fardin Ahmed, alias Protik, 25, from Panchagarh.

Acting on information provided by him, authorities later detained his associate, Sagar Ahmed, from Thakurgaon.
The fraudsters allegedly operated Telegram groups under the guise of “foreign investment platforms,” posting fabricated success stories to entice people to invest.

They reportedly laundered and misappropriated the funds through bank and mobile financial service (MFS) accounts opened under false names, leaving many investors bankrupt and some account holders facing legal trouble.

Fardin reportedly used over 30 bank and MFS accounts and multiple SIM cards registered under false identities. His associate Sagar, using the alias ‘Rio,’ ran a fake Telegram group called ‘Alex Wick’ to attract investors.

To withdraw illicit funds, Fardin purchased vehicles through bank transactions and quickly resold them at lower prices, showing fake losses to justify the withdrawals.

During preliminary questioning, Fardin confessed to his involvement in the scam, the CID said.