Professor Dr Abu Sayed Md Mostafizur Rahaman. Photo: BSS

By Mah Alam

JAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY, June 5, 2026 (BSS) - Cyber security and digital forensics researcher Professor Dr Abu Sayed Md Mostafizur Rahaman has called for the introduction of a national SMS security framework to address the rising threat of fraud through fake text messages in the name of digital services in Bangladesh.

Speaking to BSS, Prof Mostafizur of Computer Science and Engineering Department at Jahangirnagar University said that while digital services have significantly expanded in the country, they have also created new opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit public trust through SMS-based scams.

“Digital services are expanding rapidly, but fraud risks are also increasing. Citizens should not be asked only to remain cautious; a national mechanism is needed to verify the source, sender, links and authenticity of SMS messages before they are trusted,” he said.

He noted that mobile phones are now widely used for banking, mobile financial services, government notifications, e-commerce, healthcare, education and public service delivery. 

However, he warned that this increasing dependence on SMS communication has made citizens more vulnerable to fraud.

He said criminals often impersonate banks, mobile financial service providers, government agencies and law enforcement authorities to send fake messages designed to steal personal and financial information. 

“These messages typically contain misleading instructions, urgent warnings or attractive offers to manipulate users into clicking malicious links,” he added.

Referring to recent incidents involving traffic fine-related scams, Prof Mostafizur said fraudsters are exploiting public awareness of AI-based traffic monitoring systems by sending fake SMS messages claiming that vehicle owners have violated traffic rules and must immediately pay penalties through provided links.

He explained that such attacks fall under SMS phishing, commonly known as “smishing”, which primarily targets human trust rather than technical systems.

 According to him, fraudsters continuously change tactics by using fake sender identities, shortened URLs, and emotionally manipulative messages.

To tackle the growing threat, he proposed the establishment of a National SMS Trust Framework based on a “verify first, trust later” principle. 

“The framework would include a National Sender ID Registry to ensure that only authorized institutions can use approved SMS identities, reducing impersonation risks,” he said.

He also recommended strengthening verification of SMS delivery routes, as unauthorized or grey international routes are often used to distribute fraudulent messages. 

He also suggested using artificial intelligence tools to detect suspicious language patterns and malicious links before messages reach users.

Prof Mostafizur further advised restricting direct payment links in SMS messages related to government services, banking, mobile financial services and traffic fines. Instead, users should be directed to verified applications or official websites for secure transactions, he said. 

He also called for a national reporting mechanism to allow citizens to report suspicious messages, enabling coordination among telecom operators, financial institutions, regulators and law enforcement agencies for faster response.

At the same time, he emphasized that any such system must follow a privacy-by-design approach, ensuring that citizens’ personal communications are not monitored or stored unnecessarily.

He said Bangladesh’s growing digital ecosystem offers major benefits, but without stronger safeguards, public trust could be undermined by rising cyber fraud.