3 held over hacking into Shwapno’s digital system
The hackers have misappropriated digital vouchers worth around Tk18 lakh
Dhaka Metropolitan Police's (DMP) city Cybercrime Investigation Unit on Saturday arrested three members of a hacker ring on charges of hacking into the digital system of Shwapno super shop and misappropriating digital vouchers worth around Tk18 lakh.
The arrestees are Md Nasimul Islam, 23, Rehanur Hasan Rashed, 22, and Raisul Islam, 25.
Police also seized six mobile phones, two laptops, and a desktop used in hacking, cryptocurrency, cash, electronic card, and huge quantities of goods purchased through Shwapno e-vouchers from the arrestees.
The hacker group broke the powerful cybersecurity system of Shwapno. Huge amounts of unusual and suspicious digital vouchers were generated and sold between 26 June and 9 July.
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Later, the matter came to the notice of Shwapno authorities who complained with the DMP's City Cyber Crime Investigation Division.
A vigilant team of cyber investigators identified the digital footprints of the hacker group through advanced technology, including forensic analysis and reverse analysis of the digital system of Shwapno, and arrested them from different parts of the capital.
The arrestees are members of one of the most active hacker groups in Bangladesh.
The hacker group hacked into the digital system of Shwapno and sold digital vouchers worth Tk18 lakh to some e-commerce users through a Facebook group at a 25% discount and swindled huge sums of money. They deposited the money in various cryptocurrency accounts.
Cryptocurrency transactions worth about Tk20 lakh were recovered from digital devices seized from the arrestees.
The hacker group also admitted in primary inquiries that it had embezzled money through hacking into many reputed business establishments, including a leading Bangladeshi airline, well-known bus companies, and electronic gazette chain outlets.
Even these hackers are known to have access to the systems of many government and non-government organisations. They also said they purchase login credentials in exchange for cryptocurrencies from various dark web markets.
Shwapno Executive Director Hassan Nasir said a criminal gang was trying to tarnish Swapno's reputation. Digital vouchers have also been spread on social media with fake offers in the name of Shwapno last month, including fraudulent sales.
"When Shwapno authorities sought the cooperation of the cybercrime team, they took cognizance of it and caught the criminals. I would like to thank the entire team including Deputy Commissioner AFM Al Kibria, Additional Deputy Commissioner Nazmul Islam and Assistant Commissioner Chatak Chakma for this. I would also like to thank Bangladesh Police, Cyber Crime Investigation Division, Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime unit of DMP," Hassan Nasir added.
A digital security law case has been filed against the arrestees at Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station.
A 10-day remand has been sought for them in court.
The operation to arrest the accomplices of the detainees is continuing.
