Authorities have arrested a member of an international fraud ring that used the names and logos of the World Bank and other global organizations to lure victims with low-interest loan promises.
Mohammad Sohag Hossain, 35, was taken into custody early on November 28 from a residential building in Sonapur union of Lakshmipur. CID’s Cyber Police Center (CPC) seized five mobile phones, multiple agent accounts for bKash and Nagad, nine mobile numbers, and other personal data during the raid.
The arrest underscores Bangladesh’s effort to curb fraud schemes posing a threat to the country’s international reputation and national security. The World Bank, IFAD, and various UN agencies have contacted the Bangladesh Police regarding the scam.
The fraudsters contacted victims via WhatsApp, claiming to represent the World Bank’s loan program. They posed as “loan officers” in various divisions, including the Head Office in Dhaka, offering loans of BDT 1 million at 2 percent interest. Victims were directed to the fake website https://bdworldloanprojectcw.com to submit applications. The fraudsters then pressured victims into paying fees in stages under the guise of charges, VAT, insurance, and processing.
Investigators said the scheme siphoned BDT 247,448 from a single victim in Shahjahanpur Thana through cash, mobile, and bank transfers. The Cyber Intelligence and Risk Management Team of the CID’s Cyber Police Center is leading the investigation.
Sohag Hossain played a key role in coordinating domestic mobile financial service accounts, SIM cards, and illicit transactions under instructions from the ring’s overseas leaders. He also facilitated transferring defrauded funds to international members of the network. Multiple complaints and cases have already been filed nationwide using similar tactics.
Authorities have presented Hossain in court and requested a 10-day remand to identify other network members, trace the accounts and the fake website, and verify victims’ identities.
The CPC cautioned that no government or international agency issues loans via Facebook, unknown phone numbers, or suspicious websites. Any request for fees, taxes, or verification payments is a clear sign of fraud. They urged the public to report suspicious online offers immediately.