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Monday | September 28, 2026 | Dhaka
Illegal master cards

Electronic crime on rise

 New Nation
 Published: 12:00 AM, 27 July 2015

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :Import of debit and credit cards (master card) through illegal channel has increased in recent time creating opportunity to the criminal gangs to commit electronic crimes, customs sources said.They said an organised gang of criminals are involved in importing master cards since long with false declaration and documentation. “The gang of criminals had imported about 13,000 debit and credit cards from the USA in the last three months and managed to get them clear from the Dhaka airport,” an official of Dhaka Customs House told The New Nation on Sunday on condition of anonymity.He said these cards were landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) by a courier service provider with the declaration of magnetic stripe door opener.On June 1, the preventive team of Dhaka Customs House seized some 3,000 master cards from the cargo yards of HSIA imported with false declaration. Later, the customs officials called the C&F agent to explain about the illegal import but he failed to give satisfactory answer regarding the matter. He, however, fled the spot sensing trouble. Three businessmen from the port city Chittagong were involved in importing the master cards illegally, said the customs sources. Security experts, however, expressed concern over the rising import of master cards through illegal channel saying that the organised criminal gangs having technical skill and innovation can defraud credit providers through the illegal import of master cards.They said criminal groups may be adopted technical know-how to debit or credit card fraud and so they are importing master cards through illegal channel. “The issue needs immediate attention from the agencies concerned, otherwise, it can pave the way of money transactions from ATM booths by the fraudsters,” said an expert.  “The government’s import policy allows the private entrepreneurs to import debit and credit cards after paying certain tax,” MA Wadud, General Manager (Payment Systems Department) of Bangladesh Bank (BB) told The New Nation on Sunday. He, however, said, no prior permission is needed from BB to import master cards although they are being used in banking transactions. When asked, he said, the criminals may not be able to commit credit card fraud and electronic thievery in money transactions from ATM booths as such cards will not be accessible unless required features are pinched on them.