Local police have arrested a couple from Shibchar in Madaripur on charges of cheating by offering twice as much money in 21 days when they invested in an online site called Amazon Crown Imperial. The couple arrested are Kamal Hossain (40) and Fahima Akhter (38) in the case filed under the Digital Security Act. Kamal is the son of Abdus Salam Madbar of Jhaukandi village in Dakshin Baheratala union of Shibchar upazila.
According to the police and the victims, if they invest money in the online site, a cycle spreads it through social media with the tempting notification of paying double in 21 days. Trapped in that cycle, Kamal Hossain and his wife first invested some money. Investors get double the money after 21 days. Seeing this, the number of investors continues to increase. The online site suddenly shut down on July 7 after the investment amounted to several crore Taka. When suspected, some investors caught Kamal Hossain and his wife Fahima Akhter on Monday night and informed the police. Later, the police of Shibchar police station took them to the police station from Jhaukandi village.
A victim named Zakir Hossain filed a case under the Digital Security Act at the police station against a total of seven people, including two detainees. The couple was arrested in the case.
Shibchar police sub-inspector (SI) Siddharthbrata Kundu said two mobile phones and bank account checks used by the detainees were seized.
Shibchar police officer in charge (OC) Md. Miraj Hossain said that at least 40 victims came to the police station to lodge a complaint. One of them has sued under the Digital Security Act. He alleged in the statement that Tk. 10 lakh was taken from the plaintiff in the case. The matter is being investigated by the police. An operation is underway to nab others accused in the incident.