Why agent schemes exist
Online gambling is prohibited in Bangladesh, and banks and wallet providers are expected to stop payments to gambling operators. To get around this, offshore betting sites rely on networks of people who receive money from players on personal wallets and move it on. For the player this means sending money to a stranger's number with no receipt, no contract and no one to complain to if it goes missing.
Common tricks used by fake agents
| Trick | What happens |
|---|---|
| Deposit never arrives | You send money, the "agent" stops replying or blocks you |
| "Activation fee" | A first deposit is credited, then a fee is demanded to "unlock" a withdrawal |
| Wrong-number story | The scammer claims to have sent you money by mistake and asks you to send it back |
| OTP request | A "support agent" asks for the code from SMS to "confirm the deposit" and empties the wallet |
| Fake confirmation SMS | You receive a message that looks like a wallet notice, but it comes from an ordinary number |
| Bonus bait | A "double deposit today only" offer pushes you to send more before you check anything |
Rules that keep your wallet safe
- Never share your PIN or an OTP code with anyone. Real wallet staff never ask for them.
- Check your balance in the official app, not by trusting an SMS or a screenshot.
- Do not send money to a number you got from a chat, a comment or a stranger's call.
- Ignore "wrong transfer" stories: a real mistaken transfer is reversed by the provider, not by you.
- Turn on app lock and do not let anyone use your phone to "help" with a payment.
Being asked to work as an agent
Students and young people are often offered easy money for "processing deposits": you receive transfers on your wallet and pass them on, keeping a small commission. This is not a harmless side job. Under the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025, helping or facilitating online gambling is part of the same criminal offence as running it. Your wallet and NID are linked to every transaction, so you are the first person investigators can identify. Accounts used this way are also frozen by providers, often together with the money on them.
If someone asks to "rent" your wallet or NID, or to use your number to receive payments, refuse. You carry the legal risk; they keep the profit.
If you already sent money
- Call your wallet provider's official helpline from the app right away and give the transaction ID.
- Save screenshots of the chat, the number and the transaction details.
- Do not pay any "recovery" fee: people offering to get your money back for a fee are usually the same scammers.
- Read our guide on what to do after a scam for the reporting options.
For the legal background, see online betting and the law in Bangladesh.
FAQ
Is it safe to deposit to a betting site through an agent?
No. You send money to a private person with no guarantee, and online gambling itself is prohibited in Bangladesh.
Can I get my money back from a fake agent?
Contact your wallet provider immediately with the transaction ID. The sooner you report, the better the chance the money can be held.
Is working as a betting payment agent legal?
No. Helping or facilitating online gambling is covered by the same offence under the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025.