CID uncovers years-long credit card fraud

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a former private bank official accused of fraudulently using a customer’s credit card for years without the customer’s knowledge, allegedly conducting transactions amounting to more than Tk 1.77 million.

The suspect, identified as Sarwar Hossain, around 40 years old, was apprehended on Monday evening by a team from the CID’s Dhaka Metro (West) division in the Kova Bhaban area on Road No. 32 under Gulshan Police Station. According to a CID media release issued on Tuesday, the arrest followed intelligence-based operations supported by digital forensic analysis.

Investigators said Hossain was serving as a Senior Relationship Officer at a private bank in 2017 when a customer applied for a credit card. Although the customer later returned the card to the bank after deciding not to use it, Hossain allegedly failed to surrender it and instead retained possession of the card.

CID alleged that he then used a false mobile number and address to maintain control over the account, allowing one-time passwords (OTPs) and other banking information to be directed to him. Using that access, he allegedly carried out a series of financial transactions through the card.

The alleged fraud surfaced recently when the customer discovered through a report from the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) that a loan had been taken in his name in 2017. The customer claimed he had neither applied for nor received any such loan and was unaware of the matter.

Following a written complaint to Bangladesh Bank, the issue was brought to the attention of the concerned bank, which launched an internal inquiry. The investigation subsequently uncovered evidence of the alleged irregularities.

Based on the findings, a case was filed with Tejgaon Shilpanchal Police Station on April 15 this year under sections 408, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the Penal Code.

The investigation found that between late 2017 and mid-2022, transactions totalling Tk 17,70,213 were conducted through the credit card without the customer’s knowledge.

Of that amount, Tk 14,13,500 was repaid, but investigators alleged that Tk 5,56,995, including interest, remained outstanding and had been misappropriated.

CID said Hossain breached the trust placed in him by a customer while working in the banking sector. Investigators also alleged that he continued using the card even after leaving the bank in 2019.
Legal proceedings against the accused are currently underway.