Police in Bangladesh have arrested two members of an alleged fraud ring accused of swindling job seekers out of millions of Taka by promising jobs and permanent residency in Australia and Canada using fake visas, forged documents and a false visa verification website.
The arrestees, identified as Mariful Islam, 21, and Baccha Bau alias Hasinur, 28, were apprehended during a raid in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district on July 28. The arrests followed a fraud case filed with Pallabi Police Station.
During the raid, police seized a laptop, seven mobile phone sets, 13 SIM cards, and nine fake Bangladeshi passports from the suspects' possession. Investigators said the syndicate lured victims through social media with offers of high-paying overseas jobs before collecting money for various fabricated expenses.
To appear credible, the group allegedly used forged work permits, visa approval letters, LMIA documents, and a fake visa verification website resembling an official Australian government portal. Police suspect the group defrauded more than 72 victims using the same method.
The two accused were produced before a court with a plea for a seven-day remand, while efforts are underway to arrest other members of the syndicate. The scam highlights the vulnerability of job seekers in Bangladesh to fraudulent schemes promising overseas employment opportunities.
