TCB warns of fake home delivery ad

The state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has warned its dealers and customers against an advertisement — which has gone viral on social media — for delivering subsidised TCB products to homes.

It said the campaign is “fake” and a fraud gang is swindling customers out of money by pretending to deliver products to their houses. Besides, the gang is also luring in customers by advertising the issuance of new family cards in exchange for money, the TCB said.

In an audio message to dealers on Saturday, TCB spokesperson Humayun Kabir said a fraud gang has been working for a long time claiming that the TCB products will be delivered at homes and new cards will be issued.

“An advertisement in this regard is also circulating on social media. Although a fraudster named Prem Kumar has already been apprehended, the gang continues its activities. So be careful yourselves [dealers] and warn everyone around you about it.”

It is known that a man named Prem Kanti spoke when an interested customer contacted the mobile number mentioned in the advertisement on Facebook.

Prem Kanti informed him that nine types of products will be delivered to the address of the customer the next day if he pays Tk 7,090 through mobile financial services — Nagad and Rocket.

The man also added that the products will be sent only through the home delivery system.

The TCB currently sells essential products at affordable prices to one crore low-income families having family cards. These subsidised products are sold to consumers who have family cards distributed by local representatives.

Officials said the TCB has not taken any initiative to deliver its products door to door.

Humayun Kabir said they have sent a letter to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) informing them about the fraudulence and advertisement of selling products under the name of TCB.

Through the fake advertisement, the gang also offers a new family card in exchange for Tk 550, he added.

According to the advertisement, the TCB products are delivered on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday every week.

The gang, in the advertisement, announced of gifting a smartphone if two packages of nine types of products are bought together, while a motorcycle for purchasing 25 packages.