Fraudster Arrested For Impersonating Officials On WhatsApp

An elite anti-crime unit of the Bangladesh Police has arrested a man for allegedly creating fake WhatsApp profiles of senior government officials and dignitaries to extort money and exert illegal influence.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained the suspect, identified as Atiar Dorji, during a targeted midnight raid in the Bhanga Upazila of Faridpur. Acting on precise intelligence and utilising advanced digital tracking technology, an operational team from the RAB-10 Faridpur camp launched the crackdown at around 12:45 am on Saturday.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed in connection with the case, the suspect had been systematically mimicking the identities of high-ranking state officials. By stealing their names and photographs, he created deceptive WhatsApp accounts to conduct unauthorised lobbying, influence administrative decisions, and secure illicit financial advantages from unsuspecting citizens. The sophisticated cyber fraud came to light when senior authorities noticed unusual communications appearing to originate from top-tier bureaucrats. A subsequent internal review confirmed that the mobile numbers and messaging accounts used in these operations had absolutely no link to the actual officials.

Following the discovery of the scam, a formal criminal case was registered at the Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka. RAB-10 intensified its electronic surveillance and field intelligence to trace the digital footprint of the perpetrator, eventually pinpointing his location in the Azimnagar area of Bhanga.

During the raid, law enforcement officials seized an array of items used to facilitate the fraudulent scheme. The confiscated property includes a private microbus, seven mobile phones used to manage the spoofed accounts, five automated teller machine (ATM) cards from various commercial banks, and 8,900 Taka in cash.

Identity theft and digital impersonation targeting public officials have become a growing concern for law enforcement agencies in recent years. Criminals frequently exploit the credibility of state institutions to deceive the public, making digital vigilance crucial. The arrested suspect has been handed over to the relevant police station in Dhaka for formal questioning and subsequent legal proceedings. Investigations remain ongoing to determine if a wider syndicate is involved.