The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a man for allegedly defrauding and blackmailing a Bangladeshi woman living in the United States through a fake marriage, extorting more than Tk 1.5 crore from her.
The arrestee was identified as Md Salauddin, 29, of Satkania upazila in Chattogram. Members of the Cyber Intelligence and Risk Management Team of the Cyber Police Center (CPC) arrested him from the Lohagara area of Chattogram on Tuesday, said CID Special Superintendent Jasim Uddin Khan on Wednesday.
Based on information provided by the accused, a mobile phone and SIM card used in the crime were recovered, the CID said.
According to investigators, Salauddin introduced himself on Facebook as “Nadim Ahmed Suman,” posing as a Canada-based widower. He contacted the victim through a Facebook marriage media page titled “BCCB Matrimonial: Heavenly Match.” To gain her trust, he allegedly arranged video calls in which two individuals were presented as his mother and sister.
The CID said the accused later conducted a so-called marriage with the victim over a phone call and, promising to travel to the United States, repeatedly sought financial assistance from her. At one stage, he secretly recorded objectionable video footage of the victim during video calls and threatened to spread the content online unless money was paid.
Through prolonged blackmail and intimidation, Salauddin allegedly collected about USD 125,000—equivalent to approximately Tk 1.54 crore—via bank transfers and mobile financial services, according to a CID press release.
The victim’s brother filed a case with Mirpur Model Police Station under the Penal Code and the Pornography Control Act, 2012.
During the probe, the CID found that Salauddin had previous cases involving similar offences. In preliminary interrogation, he reportedly admitted to defrauding 80 to 85 women using the same method.
The CID also said that police had earlier submitted a charge sheet against him in a case filed at Mohammadpur Police Station under the Pornography Control Act. After securing bail in that case, he allegedly resumed committing similar crimes.