Dhaka, Oct 13 (V7N): A Dhaka resident was defrauded of Tk 17.67 lakh by scammers who promised him a $5 million payout from a fake insurance claim linked to a deceased individual in the United States.

Following the victim's complaint filed with New Market Police Station yesterday, law enforcement arrested Aziz Molla, one of the alleged fraudsters, at an office called "Model Agency" in Banasree, according to Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

On September 29, the victim, Md Nuruzzaman, was contacted via Facebook by someone using the name "Anna Harrison," who later asked him to continue the conversation on WhatsApp. There, the scammer claimed that a Bangladeshi-origin man named Mohammad Belton had died in the US, leaving behind $5 million in Alliance Bank.

The scammer instructed Nuruzzaman to pose as a relative of the deceased and provided him with a WhatsApp number allegedly belonging to the bank's manager. "Anna Harrison" urged Nuruzzaman to send a pre-written message to this purported bank manager.

Following this, the victim was connected with a supposed legal adviser, who claimed that in order to claim the insurance money, Nuruzzaman needed to send $76,000. The scammer also provided a payment slip indicating that she had already made this payment to the legal adviser.

The alleged bank manager later informed Nuruzzaman that two bags containing the $5 million had been sent to a shipping company for delivery to Bangladesh, even showing him a video as proof. He was then asked to pay Tk 1.85 lakh for insurance and delivery costs, which Nuruzzaman deposited into a Dutch-Bangla Bank account.

On October 3, someone impersonating a customs officer contacted Nuruzzaman, claiming that the two bags were held at Dhaka airport and demanded Tk 4.07 lakh to release them. Nuruzzaman complied, transferring the money to an Islami Bank account. Following further instructions, he also paid an additional Tk 11.75 lakh for income tax and duties to a different Islami Bank account.

Despite making these payments, the fraudsters continued to ask for another Tk 10.50 lakh. Growing suspicious, Nuruzzaman reached out to the customs office at Dhaka airport, only to discover that he had been scammed.

In total, the syndicate swindled Tk 17.67 lakh from him. He subsequently filed a case against several unnamed individuals at New Market Police Station. During the arrest, authorities seized nine cheque books from various banks, three ATM cards, two Visa cards, and two mobile phones used in the scheme.

Aziz Molla reportedly confessed to his involvement in the fraud during preliminary interrogation, according to police.

END/MSS/RH