Coin trap: Businessmen lose crores of taka

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) arrested five gang members from different districts, including Dhaka, for alleged involvement in tricking people under the guise of selling highly valuable wooden coins.

The gang embezzled crores of taka from various people, including businessmen.

Banaj Kumar Majumder, chief of PBI, disclosed this to reporters at PBI Dhanmondi headquarters in the capital on Thursday.  

The arrestees are Aktaruzzaman, Salam, Moniruzzaman Kamrul alias Jaman, Abu Taher Joba and Safiqul Islam Sapon. 

Police recovered two wooden coins and TK2 lakh in cash from their possession.  

Banaj Kumar Majumder said, "The gang members showed the wooden coins to their targets, claiming that they are used in NASA research and are extremely valuable. They promised benefits of up to one crore taka by investing in the coins."

"They also claimed that the coins can be traded internationally. Promising quick gains, the gang members contacted wealthy businessmen and lured them into investing," the PBI chief said.

He said a Chattogram-based businessman lost Tk2 crore, a retired government official lost TK1.48 crore and Anando Group Chairman lost TK1.5 crore under false pretenses.

The PBI chief said the gang members introduced themselves to their targets as customers, traders, and researchers. Once he established good terms with the target, Akter the ringleader would say that he knows a buyer of coins by the name of Jaman who resides in the border area of Jashore. Jaman would then call the target, expressing his interest in buying a coin."

"This is how the gang would go about building trust. After collecting money from the target, the gang members would stop all contact," he added.