Fake Facebook scam: DMP arrests youth for impersonating top officials
During preliminary interrogation, the arrestee admitted to his involvement in the fraudulent activities, which he had allegedly been carrying out for a long time with the help of his associates
Detectives have arrested a young man for allegedly running a fraud scheme by creating fake Facebook accounts using the names and photos of senior government and police officials.
The arrestee, Md Ripon, 23, was detained around 4:30pm yesterday (30 March) in front of the cancer building of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) under Shahbagh Police Station, according to DB officials.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Tarikul Islam of the Detective Branch's Cyber and Special Crime (South) division disclosed the matter during a briefing held at the DMP Media Centre at around 8:15pm.
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Police said an organised fraud ring had long been operating on Facebook by opening fake accounts in the names of high-ranking police officers, key state figures and senior government officials, and posting misleading content to deceive the public.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a DB team carried out the drive with the assistance of information technology and arrested Ripon. Two mobile phones were seized from his possession.
Analysis of the seized devices revealed a fake Facebook account titled "Doctor Ayesha Khatun" in active use. Investigators said the account was being used to circulate deceptive posts by using photos of the Inspector General of Police and other prominent figures.
During preliminary interrogation, Ripon admitted to his involvement in the fraudulent activities, which he had allegedly been carrying out for a long time with the help of his associates, police said.
Legal proceedings against him are underway, said Arifa Akhter Preeti, Assistant Police Commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of DMP.
