Police in Lalpur upazila under Natore district have arrested five individuals on charges of hacking social media accounts belonging to expatriates and allegedly misappropriating money through fraudulent activities. The arrests were made on Friday night (1 May) during a coordinated operation in the Pansipara area of Durduria Union.
According to police and local sources, the group is accused of operating by gaining unauthorised access to various social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, and IMO, using Android mobile phones connected to the internet. The victims were reportedly targeted primarily because they were living abroad, making their accounts more vulnerable to deception-based financial exploitation.
The operation was conducted in the villages of Pansipara and Naopara under Lalpur upazila. Law enforcement officers involved in the raid included Sub-Inspector Md. Munsup Ali, Sub-Inspector Al Masum, and Assistant Sub-Inspector Md. Ansar Ali, alongside other members of the police team.
The individuals arrested have been identified as follows:
| Name | Age | Father’s Name | Village |
| Based Ali | 17 | Rafiz Mondol | Pansipara |
| Abdullah | 19 | Ashraf Ali | Pansipara |
| Abdullah Al Bayezid | 18 | Bacchu Mondol | Pansipara |
| Lalon Ali | 21 | Sultan Ali | Naopara |
| Shakil | 19 | Shahinur Rahman | Naopara |
Police stated that the group allegedly conducted hacking activities from a residence in Pansipara village, using Android devices with internet connectivity. Through unauthorised access to social media accounts, they reportedly took control of victims’ profiles and attempted to obtain money through deceptive communication methods.
Following the operation, all five individuals were taken into custody. Law enforcement officials confirmed that the arrests were made as part of an ongoing effort to address cyber-related offences within the locality.
Officer-in-Charge of Lalpur Police Station, Shafiqul Islam, confirmed that coordinated operations were carried out in both Pansipara and Naopara villages. He stated that the arrests were made on charges related to fraudulent financial activities conducted through hacking. He further noted that legal proceedings are in progress against the accused.
Police also indicated that investigations are continuing to determine the full extent of the group’s activities and whether additional individuals were involved in similar offences. The seized mobile devices are expected to be examined as part of the ongoing inquiry.