Digital marketplace for HSC question leaks under strict watch; 18 IDs on intelligence radar

With only a few hours left before the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination begins, students are expected to be at their desks revising for the test. Instead, late at night, thousands of examinees remain glued to their smartphone screens, browsing Telegram channels and Facebook groups where they are lured with promises of leaked examination questions.

As the ongoing HSC examinations continue, a "digital marketplace" for question leak scams has emerged on social media. Alongside Facebook, fraudsters are now increasingly active on end-to-end encrypted Telegram channels.

Asia Post has obtained information from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding several Facebook groups and Telegram channels spreading rumors about leaked exam questions and selling them for money. These platforms publish posts claiming to offer genuine question papers in exchange for payment. The CID has identified 18 accounts involved in such activities, all of which are currently under surveillance.

An investigation by Asia Post found that the operators of these platforms are collecting hundreds of thousands of taka every night through mobile financial services by exploiting the anxiety of HSC candidates. Such fraud rings become particularly active during public examinations.

A Trap of Fraud

A Facebook group titled "HSC Question Leak-2026" currently has 3,788 members. It was created at the end of February this year under the name "SSC Exam Question Leak-2026" before being renamed on May 11.

The group was opened using a Facebook account named "Priyom Priyom." Posing as an HSC candidate, Asia Post contacted the account seeking the Accounting First Paper question scheduled for July 12. The operator responded positively and demanded Tk 5,600.

When told that paying the full amount in advance was not possible, the individual agreed to provide a single question in exchange for Tk 500 and supplied a Nagad mobile banking account (01923***575) for payment.

Asia Post later investigated the mobile number associated with the account. The number was registered in the name of Kabindra Chandra Das, a 54-year-old resident of Sunamganj. When contacted, Kabindra said he did not have a Nagad account and that although the SIM card was registered in his name, it was being used by his son.

How the Scam Operates

The CID has identified seven Facebook accounts posting fraudulent content in the "HSC Question Leak-2026" group. One of them, Ahmed Rahat Khan, posts messages directing students to his Telegram channel, where they are asked to pay money in exchange for the alleged examination questions.

Another account, Daria Akter, posts claims that she has already received the leaked questions in an apparent attempt to convince other students to make payments. Several other accounts—including Jannatul Islam, Tanvir Chowdhury, Roman Bhai, and PeacefulGrapefruit—have also been used to carry out the scam.

The CID has found at least four Facebook groups directly involved in such fraudulent activities.

Among them is the "HSC Batch 2026 Help Line" group, where three accounts involved in collecting money from students have been identified.

Originally created in 2024 to share exam suggestions, the group changed its name six times before adopting its current title on April 30.

The group is managed by two accounts—"Byatikrom Online Coaching Center" and "Target A Plus Coaching Center." Three additional accounts—Khurshid Bin, Passionia Telemma731, and Sadikul Islam—regularly promote fake question-selling schemes within the group.

Similarly, rumors about leaked questions are spread through the "Result Change" group by an account named Roman Bhai, through the "All Board Question Leak" group by Abid Bhai, and through another group titled "HSC Batch-2026" by an account named Rifat Khan.

In addition to Facebook, intelligence agencies are monitoring six Telegram channels allegedly involved in spreading question leak rumors. These include "HSC 2026 All Questions," "HSC 26" (two separate channels), "Free Questions," "HSC 2026 All Board Questions," and "HSC Genuine Questions (2026)." These channels also claim to provide leaked examination questions in exchange for money.

Education Board's Response

Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, Syed Aktaruzzaman, told Asia Post, "So far, we have not received any credible reports of HSC question leaks or similar rumors. The administration remains vigilant, particularly the CID, which is actively working on the issue. We are optimistic that the remaining examinations will be conducted smoothly."

What Cybersecurity Experts Say

Cybersecurity expert Tanvir Hasan Zoha told Asia Post that rumors of question leaks are no longer just scams—they have become cybercrimes that undermine public confidence in the education system.

"Claims of selling examination questions through Facebook, Telegram, or any other platform are, in most cases, financial scams targeting students and their parents," he said.

According to him, the government should strengthen cyber surveillance and quickly identify the accounts, groups, and channels involved in selling fake examination questions before taking legal action against those responsible.

He also stressed the importance of using digital forensic techniques to identify the perpetrators and coordinating with the relevant online platforms to remove such content as quickly as possible.

Zoha further said, "The public also has a responsibility. Instead of believing or sharing posts, links, or messages claiming to offer leaked questions, people should report them to the appropriate authorities. Spreading such rumors is a crime, and encouraging them only strengthens criminal networks. Protecting students' futures requires a combination of public awareness, technology-based investigations, and swift legal action."

CID's Statement

Acting Chief of the CID Ali Akbar Khan told Asia Post, "Our cyber patrolling team continuously monitors platforms that spread these rumors. Whenever we identify a Facebook group or Telegram channel involved in such activities, we immediately inform the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the relevant authorities so that they can be shut down. Operations to arrest those running these platforms are ongoing. Despite our limited resources, we remain fully committed to combating cybercriminals."