Court orders filing of case against imo hackers

A Natore court ordered police to file cases against a group in Lalpur upazila that has been hacking into different accounts on social media app "imo" and tricking people into sending them money.

The district's Senior Judicial Magistrate Abu Saeed passed the order yesterday afternoon.

The court has directed the officer-in-charge of Lalpur Police Station to file a regular case against the hackers and to inform the court in writing by September 22, which is also the scheduled date for the next order, court sources said. 

Razu Ahmed, the court's bench assistant, said the court issued the ordered after a video story, titled "How a ring in Natore is pocketing thousands of Taka everyday" was posted on The Daily Star's official Facebook page on September 16, following a report published by the newspaper in this regard on August 31.

In the report and video story, The Daily Star explained how the hackers collect an expatriate's number through the app and hack the targeted ID by sending an OTP (one-time password). They then spend a week observing conversations made from the ID.

Finally, they call relatives of the user from the ID and concoct various scenarios, such as accidents or illnesses, to embezzle large sums of money.

After reviewing the news, the court in its observation mentioned that an organised fraud ring, spread across the upazila, has been hacking into different accounts on social media app imo and stealing thousands of taka from people, including many expatriates, every day.

This is a punishable offense under various sections of the Penal Code and Sections 23 and 34 of the Digital Security Act.

Penalties for offences under Section 23 of the DSA are five years' imprisonment and a fine of Tk 5 lakh and for offences under Section 34 are 14 years' imprisonment and a fine of Tk 1 crore.

In order to take legal action against the organised ring, the court asked Lalpur Police Station's officer-in-charge to have the case filed by someone who is not below the rank of sub-inspector.

Liton Kumar Saha, superintendent of police in Natore, said police will take all necessary action as per the court's order.