The freelancing industry, a sector with great potential for contributing to the country’s economy, is facing a significant threat due to the rise of fraudulent entities engaging in illegal activities.
Freelancers, who are playing a role in bringing in valuable foreign currency, are being lured to participate in illegal transactions by a network of scammers involved in banned online gambling and cryptocurrency fraud.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, freelancers who have been victimized told this correspondent that illegal online gambling operations are being conducted from Dubai, with their silent agents spread across the country.
This illicit activity is trapping individuals of all age groups, including school children, resulting in a rampant addiction problem and devastating financial consequences.
Freelancers informed that these agents, if interrogated, could reveal the masterminds behind the gambling.
According to their information, it was learned that one Saiful Islam behind his business runs gambling from an office named ‘3S Cargo’ located in the capital's Gulshan, and invites them to invest in different crypto platforms.
Saiful is accused of using fake Facebook identities to lure freelancers with promises of high returns on investments in illegal cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Once trust is gained, he convinces them to convert their earnings into illegal virtual currencies, leading to substantial financial losses.
Rafiq Mohammad Bhuiyan, a self-employed web developer, while talking to this correspondent shared his experience as one of the victims.
He said that Saiful lured me into his deceitful scheme by offering a lucrative cash profit of Tk 3 lakh through a foreign account. However, when the agreed-upon time came and I requested my money, Saiful resorted to threatening me.
Many others share a similar story like Rafiq’s, alleging Saiful is also engaged in the illegal hundi business, which is operated by an organized syndicate.
When contacted, Saiful Islam denying all allegations said, “All allegations against me are false and baseless, I knew nothing about it. I don't even know what cryptocurrency is?”
Industry experts stressed the importance of legitimate financial channels for freelancers. They encouraged freelancers to bring their hard-earned money through legal banking transactions to avoid falling victim to scams.
Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society (BFDS) president Tanjiba Rahman told Bangladesh Post, “We never encourage any of our freelancers to involve themselves with any illegal means. We repeatedly hold awareness campaigns to avoid such scam offers. Through banking channel they can now bring their hard earned money to the country which is safe and also good for the country’s economy”
According to Bangladesh Bank, cryptocurrency transactions are illegal in the country.
