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Bangladesh (BD)

Bangladesh is a densely populated delta nation in South Asia, bordered by India and Myanmar, with the Bay of Bengal to the south.

Capital: Dhaka
Region: Asia
Language: Bengali
Currency: BDT (৳)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 15)
Emergency: 999
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Bangladesh.

Never share an OTP, PIN or mobile-wallet code with anyone who contacts you — no legitimate bank, mobile-money operator or government office will ever ask for it by phone or message. Verify every landlord, employer and visa agent through official channels before paying anything. Use only licensed banks or money changers for all currency exchange.

bKash / Nagad OTP fraud

critical

A caller pretends to be bKash, Nagad, Bangladesh Bank, or a police officer, claiming your account is blocked or a payment has gone wrong. They ask you to share the OTP sent to your phone. In 2025–2026 scammers also use AI voice cloning and fake prize messages timed around Eid or Pahela Baishakh. Once you share the OTP, your wallet is drained within seconds.

How to spot it
  • - Caller asks for your OTP, PIN or "security code" — bKash (16247) and Nagad (16167) never do this
  • - Urgency: account will be blocked, suspended or fined unless you act immediately
  • - WhatsApp or Messenger messages promising prizes, refunds or bonuses that need OTP confirmation
  • - Fake bKash or Nagad app links sent via SMS asking you to update or verify your account
  • - Caller ID appears legitimate but the tone is pressured or threatening
What to do: Hang up immediately. Call bKash on 16247 or Nagad on 16167 using the number stored in your contacts. Report the incident to Bangladesh Bank MFS complaint desk (16236) and file a cybercrime complaint with the CID Cyber Police Centre (cid.gov.bd, phone: +880 1320019998).

Fake work permit or visa fixer

critical

An agent claims they can guarantee a Bangladesh work permit, convert a tourist visa to a work authorisation, or expedite a police clearance certificate — all for an upfront cash fee. Work permits require a genuine employer with BIDA, BEPZA or NGOAB authorisation; no fixer can bypass this process.

How to spot it
  • - Promises a guaranteed permit or "100% success" without a verifiable named employer
  • - Demands cash only, refuses to provide an official receipt or invoice
  • - Claims a tourist visa can be converted to a work visa without leaving the country
  • - No BIDA, BEPZA or NGOAB reference number is provided
  • - Contact is WhatsApp-only with no verifiable registered office address
What to do: Use your employer's HR department and a licensed Bangladeshi lawyer to apply through BIDA (bida.gov.bd) or the relevant authority. Never pay any individual claiming they can accelerate the official process. Report fake agents to the CID Cyber Police Centre or the nearest thana.

Rental deposit before viewing

critical

A scammer copies real apartment photos from Facebook Marketplace or property sites and advertises the unit below market rent. They demand a bKash or bank transfer deposit to "hold" the property before you can view it, then disappear. This is especially common in Dhaka's Gulshan, Banani and Uttara neighbourhoods where demand is high.

How to spot it
  • - Rent is noticeably below comparable properties in the same area
  • - Landlord is abroad or unavailable for a live or video viewing appointment
  • - Contact is limited to WhatsApp; refuses email or a phone call to a verified office
  • - Pressure to transfer immediately because another applicant is ready to pay
  • - No tenancy agreement, authority document or receipt offered before payment
What to do: Never transfer money before completing a live or video viewing and a title/authority check. Pay only after signing a written tenancy agreement and receiving a signed receipt. Verify the landlord's ownership or right to lease through the building manager or local authorities.

Counterfeit taka and short-count USD exchange

warning

Street money changers near Dhaka airport or tourist areas offer rates marginally better than licensed exchangers. They provide a bundle that includes counterfeit notes or perform a sleight-of-hand short count. Counterfeit USD and high-denomination taka are also circulated at busy markets.

How to spot it
  • - Rate offered is noticeably better than the licensed bank or exchange counter rate
  • - Exchange happens on a side street, inside a vehicle or away from a licensed outlet
  • - Changer handles the notes themselves rather than letting you count at the counter
  • - Reluctance to count notes under bright light or in front of a CCTV camera
  • - No official receipt or visible licence signage
What to do: Exchange only at licensed banks or licensed money changers. Count notes immediately under good light before leaving the counter. Report counterfeit currency to Bangladesh Bank (bb.org.bd) or the nearest police station.

Fake NGO charity and emergency collection

warning

After floods, fires, Rohingya aid appeals or medical emergencies, individuals and social-media pages collect donations via personal bKash numbers while claiming to represent registered NGOs. The funds never reach any registered charity.

How to spot it
  • - Donation destination is a personal bKash or Nagad number, not a registered NGO bank account
  • - No NGOAB or Social Welfare Department registration number is provided
  • - No official receipt or tax exemption certificate is offered
  • - Emotional photo content is recycled from earlier or unrelated disasters
  • - Pressure to donate immediately before you have time to verify the organisation
What to do: Donate only through known registered NGOs such as BRAC, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, or Manusher Jonno Foundation. Check NGOAB registration at ngoab.gov.bd before transferring money to any charity.

Phishing SMS impersonating Bangladesh Post or NBR Customs

warning

A text or WhatsApp message claims a parcel is held at Bangladesh Post or Customs (NBR) and requires a small payment to release it. The link leads to a fake payment page that harvests card or mobile-banking credentials.

How to spot it
  • - SMS link does not end in a verified .gov.bd or official courier domain
  • - The "customs fee" is a round number such as BDT 250 or BDT 500
  • - Urgent language: parcel will be returned or destroyed unless paid today
  • - No tracking number that matches your actual courier's system
  • - Page asks for a bKash PIN, card number or OTP to complete payment
What to do: Navigate directly to Bangladesh Post (bangladeshpost.gov.bd) or your courier's official website and enter the tracking number manually. Never click links in unsolicited SMS messages. Report phishing to BTRC (btrc.gov.bd) and the CID Cyber Police Centre.

Ride-hailing cash dispute and overcharging

info

A driver claims the app fare was not received, demands cash payment, or changes the route and quotes a higher price on arrival. At Dhaka airport and railway stations, unofficial "helpers" redirect passengers to overpriced CNG or car services.

How to spot it
  • - Driver asks you to cancel the app booking and pay cash instead
  • - Route deviates significantly without explanation
  • - Price discussed at the destination is higher than the agreed or displayed fare
  • - Individuals in plain clothes at arrival points claim to be authorised transport agents
What to do: Confirm fare and payment method before starting the trip. Use only verified Uber, Pathao or Shohoz bookings and pay through the app. Report disputes through the in-app support channel or call the DNCRP hotline 16121.

Domestic staff reference fraud

warning

An agent or prospective domestic worker provides references that cannot be independently verified. The worker takes an advance salary payment or household valuables and disappears, or the references are entirely invented. This risk is higher for newly arrived expats without established local networks.

How to spot it
  • - Worker or agent cannot provide a contactable previous employer reference
  • - No national identity card (NID) copy offered for independent verification
  • - Request for advance salary of more than one week before starting work
  • - Agency placement fee that seems disproportionately high with no written contract
What to do: Hire through trusted referrals from established expat networks or verified agencies. Always take a copy of the NID. Use a written employment agreement with clear terms. Pay no more than one week advance before completing a trial period.

Reporting

Where to report: CID Cyber Police Centre — cid.gov.bd, phone +880 1320019998 — for cybercrime and online fraud; Bangladesh Police emergency 999; BTRC (btrc.gov.bd) for telecom and SIM-card fraud; Bangladesh Bank MFS helpdesk 16236 for mobile-banking disputes.

Consumer helpline: Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP): free hotline 16121 (business hours); online complaints at dncrp.gov.bd. bKash disputes: 16247 (free). Nagad disputes: 16167 (free).