PBI arrests three over Tk34 lakh airline ticket scam targeting retired govt official
The suspects allegedly worked for a Cambodia-based fraud syndicate that lured the victim with promises of high returns from discounted air-ticket sales.
The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested three Bangladeshis for allegedly working for a Cambodia-based online fraud ring that swindled Tk34.54 lakh from a retired government official by promising high returns from an online airline ticket business.
The arrestees are Md Mehedi Hasan alias Sohag, Abul Hasan alias Naim and Sumaiya Khatun alias Shanta. PBI arrested them in separate raids in Khulna's Harintana, Khalishpur and Aranghata areas. A court later granted them three-day remand, the agency said.
The victim, retired government official N Sayem Uddin Ahmed, came into contact with the ring through Telegram. The group introduced itself as representatives of "Airport Working Group" and offered to assess underpriced airline tickets with one- to five-star ratings before reselling them at higher prices for profit, Additional Deputy Inspector General Md Enayet Hossain Mannan said at a press briefing today (28 September).
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Sayem began investing in September last year, initially depositing Tk8,69,651 in exchange for a promised return of Tk11,69,250, including profit.
When he tried to withdraw the money, the group demanded additional payments on various pretexts, including security deposits, opening a VIP channel and Bangladesh Bank "KYC clearance".
He eventually transferred Tk34,54,286 in several instalments to different bank accounts and bKash numbers, PBI said. He later filed a case with Darus Salam police station in the capital.
According to the investigation, Mehedi, while in Cambodia, persuaded Sumaiya to open two bank accounts. Money obtained through the fraud was deposited into the accounts before being transferred to accounts operated by Mehedi and Naim. PBI found substantial suspicious transactions through Sumaiya's accounts within a single month.
The investigation also found that the Cambodia-based ring operates through several teams working at separate desks, according to PBI. Members create Facebook accounts using photographs of women and send friend requests to men.
After establishing contact, they follow a pre-written three-day script to obtain targets' WhatsApp numbers before luring them into online business investments through calls or video calls.
PBI said it seized three ATM and debit cards from different banks, along with screenshots of Telegram groups, passport copies, call detail records and bank transaction statements.
The agency said the three arrestees gave confessional statements before a court. The investigation is continuing to identify other local and foreign members of the ring and trace the money allegedly siphoned off.
