The trick is to show off shiny American dollars. Even though real dollars are shown during verification, when you come to buy, all the money is beaten and left. Not only dollars, gold dolls, gemstones and even bulls are traps.
A team of RAB-14 has arrested two members of that gang in the shop. The gang has been cheating in Magtula and Maizbagh areas of Ishwarganj upazila.
RAB raided Dhitpur Dakshinbazar area of Magtula Union last Sunday night. After receiving information about the activities of the fraudulent gang, the RAB team laid a trap for the buyer. Later Md. Sohel Mia (35) and Md. Khalekuzzaman Tuhin (25) was arrested.
Sohel is the son of deceased Sobhan Fakir of Durgapur village. And the neighborhood of the village. Ataur Rahman’s son Tuhin.
321 fake dollars and two mobile phone sets were seized from them. RAB has handed over two arrested persons to Ishwarganj police station. On Monday, they were sent to jail through the court.
It has been found that dollar fraud has been going on in that area for at least a decade and a half. A former member of the cheating gang said on condition of anonymity that the low-income people of the area work as rickshaw pullers or as laborers in various places. After a few days, he started talking to the owner about the dollar. It is said that a woman used to work in the house of a London expatriate. He brought a paper-like key from there. After a few days, the person came to see the papers out of curiosity.
Then the actual 15-20 dollars is paid. He is understood to have more dollars in cartoons and sacks. Seeing that, the members of the gang said to buy CNG-powered auto-rickshaws with all the dollars. Later, when he brought a large amount of money, the targeted person was beaten up and sent out of the area with all the money. Two cases have been registered in the police station in Baghbed Abdullahpur and Dubli areas in two months. The police have arrested eight people and sent them to jail.
Abdul Mannan, a member of Moghtula UP, said that a few other incidents have taken place. He said, although it was closed for some days, such activities have started again. It will be reduced if those involved are severely punished. Victims of fraud often do not seek legal recourse. UP Chairman Shihab Uddin Akand said that the upazila coordination meeting also discussed about fraudsters.
RAB-14 Mymensingh Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohammad Belayet Hossain said that during the initial interrogation, Tuhin and Sohail told about cheating for a long time by showing dollars. There are circles of 7-8 people in that area. Efforts are underway to catch them.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ishwarganj Police Station Mostachinur Rahman said that some gangs in Magtula and Maizbagh areas have been involved in fraud for a long time. Locally known as OK Party. The fraudsters have been brought under the law but are getting involved in this work again after getting out on bail.
