The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday urged people to remain alert against fraud ring impersonating senior military officials and intelligence personnel to intimidate and deceive people through mobile phone.
The group has been posing as officials of the Bangladesh Army and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), using fake identities of ranks including brigadier general and lieutenant colonel deceived people through mobile phones, said an ISPR release.
The fraudsters reportedly collect photos of uniformed army officers from various online sources and use them as WhatsApp profile pictures to gain trust before attempting to carry out fraudulent activities, it said.
They then contact general people and try to threaten or coerce them for illicit gains.
Officials clarified that neither the Bangladesh Army nor any intelligence agency communicates with individuals in such a manner for personal purposes.
People have been urged to remain cautious and not to respond to such calls or messages.
If anyone receives such phone calls, they are advised to immediately inform the nearest law enforcement agency, providing the mobile number used by the suspected person.
Necessary measures are underway to identify and bring the fraud ring to justice, it said.