Airport auction scam: CID arrests suspected mastermind over Tk31 lakh fraud
The group is alleged to have defrauded a victim of nearly Tk31 lakh.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested the suspected mastermind of a fraud ring accused of posing as the manager of the auction department at Dhaka airport and scamming people with promises of heavily discounted iPhones, laptops and other electronic goods.
Md Ibrahim Hossain, a resident of the Demra area of Dhaka, was arrested early yesterday (6 July) by a specialised team from the Cyber Investigation and Operations Unit of the CID's Cyber Police Centre, said a press release.
Officers arrested Ibrahim in the Commissioner Goli area of Uttar Badda. During the operation, police seized five mobile phones, including an iPhone allegedly used in the offence, along with seven SIM cards.
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The group is alleged to have defrauded a victim of nearly Tk31 lakh.
The victim, who works at a private life insurance company, later filed a case at Paltan Police Station under the Cyber Security Act.
The investigation was later transferred to the CID's Cyber Police Centre.
Investigators said the suspects initially introduced themselves as officials from the airport's auction department via WhatsApp before claiming to be its operations manager, gradually gaining the victim's trust.
The group allegedly claimed that confiscated or unused iPhones, Samsung smartphones, laptops and other high-value electronic items seized at the airport would be sold through an auction at prices well below market value.
The fraudsters then allegedly promised to supply 110 iPhones, 70 Samsung smartphones and 543 laptops, persuading the victim to transfer approximately Tk31 lakh through two bank accounts and three mobile financial service (MFS) accounts in several instalments.
After receiving the money, the suspects failed to deliver any of the promised goods, repeatedly offered excuses and eventually cut off all communication, the CID said.
During preliminary questioning, investigators said, they obtained significant information linking the arrested suspect to the alleged fraudulent activities.
The CID also said Ibrahim has previously been named in the charge sheet of a digital fraud case filed at Bhatara Police Station. That case is currently pending in court.
Investigators said they are also examining whether he is linked to any additional criminal cases or complaints, adding that efforts are continuing to identify and arrest other members of the ring.
