Members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested a student alleged of hacking Facebook accounts, collecting sensitive images, and blackmailing young women to extort money. 

Md. Fazle Hasan Anik, 24, a student of a private university's engineering department, allegedly used the money to cover personal expenses, including those of his girlfriend. 

Over the last two years, he reportedly hacked more than 50 Facebook accounts, targeting at least 15 victims for extortion.

CID’s Cyber Police Center conducted a raid on Sunday, in Uttara Sector 10, recovering a mobile phone and portable hard drive reportedly used in the crimes. 

According to officials, DIG SN Md. Nazrul Islam provided further details on Monday (Oct 28) during a briefing at CID headquarters, noting that Anik’s actions had led to significant psychological and financial distress among victims.

CID investigations revealed that Anik employed phishing tactics, sending malicious links via Facebook Messenger to lure victims into unknowingly providing their login credentials. After capturing the accounts, he accessed private photos and videos, using them to coerce victims into paying through untraceable methods, primarily cryptocurrency via Binance. 

Some victims were further pressured into paying via mobile financial services and super shops under Anik’s directions to avoid detection.

DIG SN Md. Nazrul Islam explained that Anik relied on various evasion tactics, avoiding direct transactions in mobile wallets to escape detection. Despite these efforts, CID traced Anik using advanced technology. He is currently in custody, with CID pursuing further legal actions against him as more complaints emerge regarding his extortion practices.

BDST: 1543 HRS, OCT 28, 2024
MSK/SMS