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A man allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to create images and videos of a woman wearing a Bangladesh Army uniform and used them on social media to establish a romantic relationship with an Italian expatriate before allegedly defrauding him of around Tk 700,000.
The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) arrested Tofoail Alam Titu, 35, in connection with the alleged fraud.
According to the PBI, Titu operated a Facebook page called “Lady Soldier/Nari Joddha”, where he allegedly posed as a woman and used AI-generated images and videos depicting a female Bangladesh Army member.
At a press conference at the PBI Dhaka District office on Sunday (September 27), Police Superintendent M. N. Morshed said Titu was arrested in Dhaka’s Darus Salam area on September 20. Three mobile phones and SIM cards linked to bKash and Nagad accounts allegedly used in the fraud were recovered from him.
The PBI said Shahadat Khan, 22, who lives in Italy, became acquainted with Titu through the Facebook page. Shahadat is the son of Shahnaz Begum, 46, of Barishur Baghbari in Keraniganj.
Investigators said Titu communicated with Shahadat through phone calls and IMO using a feminine voice and developed a romantic relationship with him while allegedly pretending to be a woman.
The investigation found that around Tk 700,000 was allegedly taken from Shahadat and his mother through bKash and Nagad transactions. Titu also allegedly sought money on different occasions by claiming that his mother was ill.
Shahadat’s mother initially filed a complaint case with a court. During the investigation, the PBI collected transaction records from bKash and Nagad and traced the suspect’s location.
A case was filed with Keraniganj Model Police Station on September 10. The PBI Dhaka District subsequently took up the investigation on its own initiative on September 13.
SI Md Manzur Rahman, the investigating officer, analysed documents and other information and found evidence allegedly linking Titu to the fraud, the PBI said.
Titu was arrested in Darus Salam at around 3:35pm on September 20. He was produced before a court the following day, and the court granted one day of remand.
Following the remand, Titu reportedly gave a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on September 23, according to the PBI.
Morshed said Titu was capable of speaking in a feminine voice. Investigators found that he initially contacted Shahadat through Facebook Messenger and later maintained the relationship through IMO using the feminine voice.
The investigation also found that Titu contacted Shahadat’s mother and allegedly obtained money from her on several occasions.
A PBI Police Criminal Case Record (PCCR) verification also found information about a separate case against Titu at a court in Kishoreganj. The agency said a warrant had been issued against him following the investigation in that case.
The PBI said it was investigating whether others were involved in the alleged fraud and whether further information could be uncovered about the money allegedly obtained from the victims.
The investigation is continuing.