Fake Domains Target Online Apostille Service, Government Issues Warning

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the myGov platform of the Aspire to Innovate (a2i) Programme of the ICT Division, is operating an online apostille service to make the legal migration process easier, faster, and more transparent for Bangladeshi citizens travelling abroad.

Through this service, expatriates and overseas-bound citizens can authenticate required public documents and certificates online from home, eliminating the need for physical visits.

However, cybercriminals have begun fraudulent activities by creating fake websites that closely resemble official government domains. According to the interim government, several counterfeit domains mimicking the official platform have been identified, including websites containing fake apostille certificates, aimed at deceiving applicants and undermining the credibility of the service.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Muhammad Jasim Uddin, said that following a letter sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Bangladesh Police in August, legal action was initiated to shut down fraudulent domains. As a result, multiple fake websites have already been taken offline, while efforts to identify the perpetrators and disable remaining counterfeit domains are ongoing.

He added that the online apostille service has significantly saved time, cost, and effort for citizens. Over the past 11 months, nearly 1.7 million applications have been processed, marking a major milestone for the platform.

However, he warned that such fraudulent activities could jeopardize the international acceptability of government-issued public documents and pose risks to lawful migration processes. Citizens have therefore been urged to avoid suspicious websites and refrain from sharing personal information on any platform other than the official myGov portal.

Currently, apostille certificates (e-Apostille) can be obtained online through the myGov platform, which is particularly important for students going abroad. Under the Hague Convention, the apostille grants international legal recognition to documents, significantly reducing the need for legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or foreign missions. This has made the application process faster, more affordable, and harassment-free.

DBTech/MJU/MUM/OR