3 alleged members of online scam ring arrested with 85 bhori of gold in Dhaka

Police have arrested three individuals, who are alleged members of a fraud syndicate involved in online scams, and seized 85 bhori of gold and cash in separate drives in Dhaka's Savar and Mohammadpur areas.

The arrests were made yesterday (16 May) in connection with a case.

The arrestees were identified as Md Asifur Rahman, 20, Md Al Amin, 25, and Anamika, 24.

Speaking at a press conference today (17 May), Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Division) Masud Alam, said, "Following a case filed by the victim Afroza Hossain, the New Market police apprehended the suspects from Savar and 40 Feet Basila Future Housing area in Mohammadpur.

"The suspects were part of a coordinated online fraud ring that manipulated victims through Facebook using spiritual and emotional exploitation tactics," he added.

The officer further said, "Afroza came across a Facebook group titled 'Doa Kobuler Oloikik Golpo' in January. She engaged with a user [woman] claiming to perform spiritual "Taqiyya" rituals that could help with personal problems.

"Lured by the promise of conceiving a child, Afroza was instructed to send items including her personal belongings and 25 bhori of gold through a courier service. She followed the instructions and later the user blocked Afroza."

During the operation, police recovered 85 bhori of gold ornaments and 26 bhori of gold mixed with copper, along with Tk3.5 lakh in cash, the officer said. "A mobile phone with a SIM card used in the fraudulent activities, as well as two smartphones — an iPhone 15 Pro Max and a Samsung S24 Ultra — used to carry out the scam have also been seized."

According to police, the arrested individuals are active members of an organised online fraud ring. They exploited people's gullibility by promising solutions to various personal problems, including infertility, and in doing so, amassed a large amount of gold and money — which they admitted to during initial interrogation.