Fraudsters, claiming to be education board officials, have been duping parents of many higher secondary merit scholarship holders, and looting money from their bank accounts.

While the scammers managed to fool many parents into revealing sensitive banking information, they failed in tricking others who sensed possible con attempts. Victims say, information presented by the fraudsters during their phone calls, are only with the respective universities and education boards.

The fraud racket duped a parent of a student studying in Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) and stole Tk60,000 from his bank account.  
Merit scholarship recipients get a total of Tk46,800 in four years, while the general scholarship holders get a total of Tk21,000.

According to NSTU students, several students of the university’s law department have fallen victims to the scholarship scam. Among them, the fraudulent gang stole Tk60,000, Tk10,000 and Tk5,000 from the guardians of Benazir Jahan Jemima, Poly Mazumder and Rahatul Islam Rafi respectively.

Nishat Maryam, a student of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Department 2021-22 session and Imran Himel, a student of Food Technology and Nutrition Science Department 2022-23 year, paid Tk10,000 each to the scammers.

Benazir Jahan Jemima, in her complaint, said that fraudsters called from 01323911157 and introduced themselves as board members. They provided information including the name of the student and her parents. Then they said they need to change the bank account for the payment of scholarship money and went on to ask for the ATM card details. Eventually they stole Tk60,000 from the account.  

Another student Tamjida Dewan Mrittika said, when the scammer, calling from the same phone number, asked for banking details her parents disconnected the call. The fraudsters did not contact after that.  
According to the complaint of another student Raihanul Islam Azad, the same scammer group tried to cheat the student by presenting all the correct academic information. At least 30 students from different departments of the same university have so far made the complaints.

The students alleged that the fraudsters got detailed information from their own university. They said, after the official publication of the gadget, the university issued a notice asking for the information of the scholarship recipients. Later, the students submit all the relevant information to the University Registrar’s Office.

Parents, who failed to see the con attempts, said they found no reason to doubt after the caller presented with all accurate information. Students say the university cannot avoid responsibility as they failed to ensure security of their data.

However, the university officials think that such important information of the students can go to the fraud racket from the education board.

ARM Mahamudul Hasan Rana, director (acting) of Noakhali Science and Technology University Cyber Centre, told the Daily Sun that it is possible that data of students were acquired from the board. He, however, stressed that students and parents need to be more conscious before sharing important information over phone calls.

The Cyber Centre director asked parents and students to inform the university authorities if anyone contacts them to ask for sensitive information.
“We will then report the matter to the appropriate authorities and take action,” he added.

Enamul Haque Sagor, SP (Media and Public Relations, Police Headquarters) advised fraud victim students to contact the nearest police station.
“If the students contact police stations near them and file a complaint with us, we will provide appropriate legal assistance,” he said.

One of the victim students complained that Sudharam Police Station of Noakhali refused to file a general diary over the incident saying the scammers use numbers of unknown people to do these frauds and often those caught in this way have no connection to the alleged incident.

However, Noakhali District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Asadhuj Zamman said that legal action will be taken only if complaints are received.
“I have not received any complaint in this regard yet. If aggrieved students contact our office, we will provide them with appropriate legal assistance. At the same time we will take appropriate steps to nab the fraudsters,” he told the Daily Sun.

NSTU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Md Didar-ul-Alam said appropriate measures will be taken by the university.
“We will form a probe committee once affected students report the matter to the university,” he told the Daily Sun.

“We will talk to the police and try to find out the fraudsters. Anyone linked to the scam will not be spared,” added the vice chancellor.