The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has issued a public warning in Bangladesh over a growing number of fraudulent schemes in which scammers are impersonating the multilateral lender to lure people with fake loan and financial assistance offers.

In a statement, ADB said fraudsters are using its name, logo and the identities of its officials to deceive people into paying fees or sharing sensitive financial information under the false promise of receiving loans.

The bank stressed that it does not provide loans, grants or any other form of financial assistance directly to individuals. It also never asks applicants to pay processing fees, registration charges or any other payments through mobile financial services, bank transfers or other channels in exchange for financial support.

According to ADB, recent cases involve fake websites, Facebook pages, social media profiles and other counterfeit online platforms designed to resemble the institution’s official communication channels. These fraudulent platforms are being used to solicit money from unsuspecting victims.

ADB said it has no affiliation with these schemes and warned that any person or organisation claiming to distribute ADB-funded loans directly to individuals is acting fraudulently.

The development lender urged the public to exercise caution, verify information through official ADB channels and avoid responding to suspicious loan offers. It also advised anyone contacted by individuals claiming to represent ADB to refrain from making payments or disclosing personal or financial information.

The bank encouraged victims or anyone encountering such scams to report the incidents to the relevant law enforcement and regulatory authorities.

ADB reiterated that its operations in Bangladesh are carried out in partnership with the government and private-sector organisations to finance development projects through established and transparent procedures, rather than through direct lending to individuals.

The lender also directed the public to its official scam advisories for guidance on identifying fraudulent activities involving the misuse of ADB’s name, logo, officials or office addresses.