Bangladeshi arrested in US over ‘police impersonation scam’

A suspected member of an organised fraud ring has been arrested in the United States over allegations of extorting money by posing as a law enforcer over the phone.

The expatriate Bangladeshi, Niamat Ullah, 31, a native of Chandpur who resides in Buffalo, New York, was held following a raid in Upshur County, West Virginia.

The operation was coordinated by Michael Coffman of the Upshur County Sheriff's Office, with officials from the state attorney general’s office assisting in the investigation.

Authorities said the investigation began on Feb 20 after a local bank reported suspicious financial transactions.

Investigators alleged that Niamat, along with others, contacted victims while posing as representatives of Norton Antivirus software.

The callers reportedly told victims they had accessed inappropriate websites online and needed to pay money to settle the matter.

The investigation later found those claims to be “false”.

Following the allegations, law enforcers set up a controlled money handover plan, placing surveillance at a designated location. The suspect did not appear on Feb 20.

The time was later changed to the morning of Feb 21. He was detained when he arrived to collect the money.

Authorities said more than $130,000 in cash, gold coins, multiple electronic devices were recovered from the vehicle he had been using. He did not resist at the time of arrest.

Several criminal charges were filed against him. He was sent to Tygart Valley Regional Jail

A court granted bail at $650,000 cash bond, but as of Friday there was no information on the bond being posted.

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation was ongoing.

The West Virginia Attorney General's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, relevant immigration authorities were jointly conducting the probe.

After local media reported the arrest of a Bangladeshi national, concern spread within the expatriate community.

There were allegations that many victims had suffered financial losses.

Some also raised questions about the role of banks, credit card companies in preventing such fraud.