Romance Blackmail Scams in Bangladesh
How sextortion schemes exploit Bangladeshi victims through fake online relationships and social stigma to demand bKash payments.
Part of: Romance Blackmail Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Romance blackmail and sextortion scams are a serious and growing problem in Bangladesh, where social stigma around intimate content makes victims highly susceptible to payment demands. Fraudsters target individuals across all demographics on Facebook — Bangladesh's dominant social platform — and on WhatsApp, creating fake romantic personas that escalate to intimate exchanges before threats begin.
Bangladesh's Digital Security Act provides some legal protections for victims, and the Cyber Support for Women helpline specifically addresses cases of online harassment and extortion.
How this scam works on Bangladesh
A scammer creates a convincing Facebook profile and initiates contact — often through a comment on a mutual friend's post or through a friend request. After weeks of conversation, the relationship escalates to intimate messaging. The scammer either obtains real content or falsely claims to have recorded the interaction.
Threats arrive quickly: pay via bKash within hours or the content will be shared with family, colleagues, and the victim's Facebook contacts. Payments are made, but demands escalate rather than stop. Some victims pay repeatedly for months.
The Cyber Support for Women helpline (01779-554391) specifically handles these cases and provides advice on legal remedies under the Digital Security Act.
Common red flags
- Facebook contact who escalates to intimate conversation unusually quickly
- Threats arrive within hours of any intimate exchange
- Scammer references specific family members or contacts to demonstrate they have access to your network
- bKash payment demanded with a same-day deadline to prevent sharing
- Paying once is followed immediately by a larger demand
How to protect yourself
- Do not pay — payment does not end extortion demands
- Block the scammer and preserve all evidence before reporting
- Contact the Cyber Support helpline (01779-554391) which handles these cases confidentially
- Know that Bangladesh's Digital Security Act protects victims and criminalises perpetrators
How to report it
- Call the Cyber Support for Women helpline 01779-554391 — available for all victims of digital blackmail
- File a complaint under the Digital Security Act at Bangladesh Police Cyber Tribunal
- Report the Facebook profile using the platform's report tools before blocking
Frequently asked questions
Does the Bangladesh Digital Security Act protect sextortion victims?
Yes. The Digital Security Act 2018 contains provisions against online harassment and threats. Victims can file complaints at the Cyber Tribunal. The government's Cyber Support for Women helpline (01779-554391) provides confidential guidance specifically for cases involving intimate content threats. Reporting promptly gives authorities the best chance of identifying and prosecuting the perpetrator.