The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested three people on allegations of embezzling Tk7,25,600 from multiple victims by fraudulently collecting money in the name of artificial intelligence (AI)-based traffic fines through a fake website modelled on the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
The arrestees are Md Rabbi Sheikh, 24, Md Riyad Hossain, 31, and Md Sajjad Hossain, 31.
CID Deputy Inspector General Sana Shaminur Rahman disclosed the information at a briefing at CID headquarters in the capital’s Malibagh today (16 June).
He said a team from the Cyber Intelligence and Risk Management unit of CID’s Cyber Police Centre first conducted a drive in Batiaghata area of Khulna and arrested Rabbi Sheikh.
Based on information provided by him, another operational team arrested Riyad Hossain from an area under Feni Sadar Police Station. A separate team arrested Sajjad Hossain from the Dakshinkhan area under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
The CID official said a victim recently complained to the Cyber Police Centre that he had received an SMS on his mobile phone in the name of BRTA regarding a traffic fine and case.
After entering the link provided in the SMS, he saw that a Tk3,000 fine had been imposed against his office vehicle for violating traffic rules, and that he would have to pay Tk1,500 if the fine was paid within 48 hours.
Believing the matter to be true, he entered an online payment portal to pay the fine and provided his wife’s credit card details, bank app login information and OTP.
Later, he found that instead of paying the fine, Tk3 lakh had been fraudulently transferred from his wife’s bank account to another bank account.
CID said two more victims later filed complaints over similar fraud.
The investigation found that the fraud ring sent phishing links through SMS by creating fear over fake traffic cases and fines, collected victims’ bank card, account and OTP information, and embezzled money from their accounts.
The arrested gang embezzled a total of Tk7,25,600 from multiple victims using this method, according to CID.
Operations are continuing to arrest other members of the ring involved in the incident, it said.
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