How to Report Cybercrime in Bangladesh (and Get Your Money Back)

Quick answer: If you are in immediate danger or a crime is happening now, call 999 (the toll-free National Emergency Service). To report cybercrime, contact the CID Cyber Police Centre hotline on 01320010148 (staffed around the clock) or file in person at your local police station; women can use the Police Cyber Support for Women (PCSW) line on 01320000888. If money has moved, call your bank or MFS provider immediately (bKash 16247, Nagad 16167) and ask them to freeze the account, then contact Bangladesh Bank's complaint cell on 16236. Be realistic: recovery is far more likely when you report within minutes, and money you authorised yourself (a transfer you were tricked into sending) is much harder to claw back than an unauthorised transaction.

What to do in 3 steps

1. Stop the bleeding and call your provider first. If money left your account, phone your MFS provider or bank straight away (bKash 16247, Nagad 16167, or your bank's hotline) and ask them to freeze the account and flag the transaction. Never share your PIN, OTP or password, even with someone claiming to be from the company. Genuine staff never ask for them.
2. Preserve the evidence. Before you delete anything, take screenshots of the messages, calls, transaction IDs, account numbers and any links. Note exact dates, times and amounts. This is what investigators and your bank will need to act.
3. Report it officially. Call the CID Cyber Police Centre on 01320010148, or go to your nearest police station to file a General Diary (GD) or complaint. Women facing harassment, blackmail or image abuse can contact Police Cyber Support for Women on 01320000888 ([email protected]). For data breaches or attacks on systems and websites, report to BGD e-GOV CIRT. For unresolved bank or MFS disputes, escalate to Bangladesh Bank's complaint cell on 16236.

How recovery actually works

Be honest with yourself about the odds. In Bangladesh, most mobile-money fraud relies on tricking you into approving a transfer or revealing your OTP or PIN, which means the transaction is recorded as one you authorised. Once the scammer cashes out through an agent, there is rarely a pot of money to return. Your best and often only chance is the gap between the transfer and the cash-out: if you call bKash (16247), Nagad (16167) or your bank within minutes, they may be able to put a temporary hold on the receiving account. After that, recovery depends on the police tracing and freezing funds through the courts, which is slow and not guaranteed. Reporting still matters even when your own money is unlikely to come back, because it builds the case that lets investigators catch the network and protects the next victim. Treat anyone who guarantees to recover your lost money for an upfront fee as a second scam.

What to have ready

• Screenshots of the fraudulent messages, calls, emails or social media profiles, with visible dates and times
• Transaction IDs (TrxID), the amounts, and the date and time each transfer happened
• The account, wallet or phone numbers involved, both yours and the fraudster's
• Your own National ID (NID) and the mobile number registered to the affected account
• Any link, app or website you were directed to, and a short written timeline of what happened
• For women reporting harassment or image abuse: the offending profile links and content, saved before reporting and blocking

Frequently asked questions

Can I report cybercrime online without going to a police station?
You can start by calling the CID Cyber Police Centre on 01320010148 or messaging the official Cyber Police Centre Facebook page, and women can contact PCSW directly. For a formal investigation, however, you will usually still need to file a complaint or General Diary at a police station. System and data-breach incidents can be reported online to BGD e-GOV CIRT through its incident report form.

I sent money to a scammer on bKash or Nagad. Will I get it back?
Possibly, but only if you act within minutes. Call the provider's hotline immediately and ask them to freeze the receiving account, then file a police complaint the same day. Once the scammer cashes out, recovery becomes very difficult, so do not wait. Never pay anyone who promises to recover your money for a fee.

Who do I contact if I am a woman being blackmailed or harassed online?
Police Cyber Support for Women (PCSW) is a dedicated, all-women service run by Police Headquarters. Call 01320000888 or email [email protected]. They offer confidential advice, counselling and help connecting you to the right police unit. Save the evidence before you block the offender.

Sources

• National Emergency Service 999 (Bangladesh Police, Ministry of Home Affairs)
• CID Cyber Police Centre cyber complaint hotline (Criminal Investigation Department, Bangladesh Police)
• Police Cyber Support for Women (PCSW) (Bangladesh Police Headquarters)
• BGD e-GOV CIRT incident reporting (Bangladesh Computer Council)
• Bangladesh Bank Customer Interest Protection Centre (CIPC), hotline 16236

For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.