Bigo Live ‘scam’ gang busted | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
June 09, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JUNE 09, 2025
Bigo Live ‘scam’ gang busted

Crime

TBS Report
13 June, 2021, 01:55 pm
Last modified: 13 June, 2021, 07:16 pm

Related News

  • Biman warns of online fraud using its name, logo, and staff identities
  • Why are scammers still thriving in Southeast Asia?
  • CID detains 'China Sohel', a fugitive accused in July uprising
  • BSB Global Network accused of Tk18cr embezzlement in overseas education scam
  • 8-year-old murder case solved by CID as wife confesses

Bigo Live ‘scam’ gang busted

The group allegedly transacted approximately a hundred crore taka in the last one year via different banks and mobile banking services

TBS Report
13 June, 2021, 01:55 pm
Last modified: 13 June, 2021, 07:16 pm
Bigo Live ‘scam’ gang busted

A team of cyber police under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detained a gang of five swindlers, including a foreign citizen, which had duped people to earn money illegally using social media platforms Likee and Bigo live.

The detainees are Mostafa Sayeef Reza (26), Md Arif Hossain (27), SM Nazmul Haque (27), Asma-ul-Husna Shejuti (28), and an unnamed foreign national.

An official from the Cyber Police Centre of CID told The Business Standard that a Chinese national, involved with the racket, was also detained from Karwan Bazar during a drive on Saturday.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

According to CID press releases issued today, Mostafa Sayeef Reza was the Bangladeshi admin of a Bigo Live account and Md Arif Hossain worked to recruit girls on the platform. SM Nazmul Haque was one of the top Bangladeshi agents for selling virtual currency, Bigo Live Diamonds, and Asma-ul-Husna Shejuti served as the head of admins, while the foreign national was directly involved in the operation.

Names of several other gang members were revealed during the initial investigation.

The group allegedly transacted approximately a hundred crore taka in the last one year via different banks and mobile banking services.

During the drive, police seized eight mobile phones, four laptops, seven credit cards, six checkbooks, and Tk50,460 in cash.

Likee is a short video creation and sharing app, and Bigo Live is a live streaming platform. Both apps are owned by Singapore-based BIGO Technology, which was founded in 2014 by David Li and Jason Hu.  

The police investigation has found that Bigo Live has two types of IDs - Broadcaster ID and Supporter or Sender ID - one of which is used for streaming live videos and the other one is used for making illegal money by providing video streamers with digital coins that could later be changed into local currency.

The main target for these apps are people from the younger generation and Bangladeshi expatriates. General users have to buy digital diamonds to get access to the platform which can be bought via mobile financing services.

Several agencies, including many in Bangladesh, actively work to deliver these diamonds to general users in exchange for a certain amount of money. 

These agencies can be reached via social media platforms used to advertise their service. Local agencies have been using different illegal ways to launder money abroad in order to source these diamonds from foreign admins of the app.

The filing of a case is underway.

statement of BIGO authority 

BIGO Technology (BIGO) would like to state that the company has a zero-tolerance policy against any criminal activity by any person or individual, regardless of whether or not the person is involved with any of the company's local agency partners. We have developed rigorous policies and processes, combined with our industry-leading technology to combat any criminal behaviour. At the same time, we do not take a side with or endorse any isolated action of any person or organization who may or would have any intention of involving BIGO's name in any criminal activity. We are conducting a thorough review of this case and will work with relevant law enforcement agencies in whatever way we can. Our commitment to ensuring a safe, secure and trustworthy environment for our users is to be upheld in the days to come. 

As a company based in Singapore, we are humbled by the connections that our digital media platforms bring to our users in Bangladesh. BIGO has operations in more than 20 countries around the world, one of which is Bangladesh. We aim to create positive value for our users in the region, and we comply with all regional and national laws and regulations in whichever market we operate.

We will cooperate closely with the law enforcement agencies and the government for upholding regional and national laws and values while at the same time bringing significant opportunity and value to a new generation of users.

Bangladesh / Top News

Bigo live / Likee / Scam / CID / cyber crime / Live stream / Video streaming platform / Online video streaming service

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Mohammad Azaz holds a press conference at the DNCC Nagar Bhaban in Gulshan-2 on 9 June 2025. Photo: TBS
    Over 4.66 lakh animals sacrificed in Dhaka North during Eid: Administrator Azaz
  • Photos: Collected
    Abdul Hamid wasn't arrested because he's not wanted right now: Home adviser
  • A surveillance footage shows crew of the Gaza-bound British-flagged yacht "Madleen", put their hands up as strong light came into the vessel, in this screengrab from a video released on June 9, 2025. Freedom Flotilla Coalition/Handout via REUTERS
    Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

MOST VIEWED

  • File Photo: British MP Tulip Siddiq attends a news conference with Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of jailed British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in London, Britain October 11, 2019. Photo: REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo
    Tulip requests CA Yunus for a meeting over corruption allegations: Guardian
  • Representational image of Dhaka metro rail. Photo: Mumit M/TBS
    Metro rail takes Eid break today
  • Photo: Reuters
    Trump says Musk relationship over, warns of 'serious consequences' if he funds Democrats
  • Representational image. Photo: Reuters
    Bangladesh reports 3 more Covid-19 cases
  • Muhammad Yunus (L) and Narendra Modi. Photo: Collected
    Modi sends Eid-ul-Adha greetings, Yunus calls for continued bilateral cooperation
  • Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal
    From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

Related News

  • Biman warns of online fraud using its name, logo, and staff identities
  • Why are scammers still thriving in Southeast Asia?
  • CID detains 'China Sohel', a fugitive accused in July uprising
  • BSB Global Network accused of Tk18cr embezzlement in overseas education scam
  • 8-year-old murder case solved by CID as wife confesses

Features

File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

7h | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

2d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

4d | Panorama
(From left) Sadia Haque, Sylvana Quader Sinha and Tasfia Tasbin. Sketch: TBS

Meet the women driving Bangladesh’s startup revolution

5d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg

27m | TBS World
Which way will the anti-immigration campaign in Los Angeles turn?

Which way will the anti-immigration campaign in Los Angeles turn?

1h | TBS World
CA leaves for London this evening on four-day official tour

CA leaves for London this evening on four-day official tour

2h | TBS Today
Former BGMEA Senior Vice President Abdullah Hill Rakib passes away

Former BGMEA Senior Vice President Abdullah Hill Rakib passes away

3h | Others
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net