Fake Facebook ‘tantriks’ used chemical trick to extort victims, PBI arrests three

A fraud ring posing as spiritual healers on Facebook allegedly tricked women into applying mixture of potassium permanganate and syrupy sweets to their hands or abdomen. The chemical reaction caused painful burns. The scammers then claimed only supernatural powers could heal the injuries and demanded money from the victims.

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) said on Monday it had arrested three members of the alleged gang. Investigators said they identified the suspects by analysing their digital footprints. The group is accused of exploiting superstition and social media to defraud victims in Bangladesh and India.

According to the PBI, the suspects operated fake Facebook pages and Imo accounts under names such as “Rahmat Ali Kabiraj”, “Hossain Kabiraj” and “Asma Kabiraj”.

They targeted women looking for help with family or relationship problems. The victims were first asked to send small amounts of money as religious offerings or for rituals.

The fraudsters then instructed the victims during video calls to use potassium permanganate and syrupy sweets together. The chemical reaction caused severe burns to their palms or abdomen. The suspects later claimed they could heal the wounds through jinn or supernatural powers. They demanded more money through bKash and Nagad before cutting off contact.

The case came to light after a woman filed a complaint with Khilkhet Police Station on June 21. She told police she had contacted a Facebook account named “Rahmat Ali Kabiraj” in the hope of ending her husband's alleged extramarital affair.

The PBI said the fraudster first collected Tk1,500 as a religious offering.

He later took another Tk3,500, claiming it was needed to buy "Jalali pigeons" for a ritual. After the woman suffered chemical burns, he promised to cure her and collected another Tk16,000. In total, she lost Tk21,000.

Investigators arrested Ahid Mia, 24, and Mahe Alam, 27, in Cumilla on July 24. Later that day, they arrested Hasan Ali, 20, in Noakhali. Police seized mobile phones and SIM cards that were allegedly used in the scam.

The PBI said Ahid Mia and Hasan Ali later gave confessional statements before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Investigators said financial records showed that part of the money collected from victims was transferred to Ahid Mia's mobile banking account. They also said Mahe Alam used a bKash account registered in his own name to help the main suspect.

The investigation found the group also targeted people in neighbouring India. It allegedly used fake Facebook pages and Indian mobile numbers to contact victims. Payments were collected through Google Pay and later transferred to Bangladesh through hundi, the PBI said.

Investigators also found that the group regularly paid advertising agencies to boost its fake Facebook pages. The aim was to reach more people and attract new victims.

The PBI said information from the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery showed that at least 200 people with similar chemical burns had sought treatment in recent months. Investigators believe the scam may have affected many more people than the single case now under investigation.

Special Superintendent of Police Fazle Elahi said the PBI would continue to crack down on fraud rings that exploit religious beliefs, superstition and technology. He urged people not to trust self-proclaimed spiritual healers advertising on social media and to report suspected fraud to the authorities.

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