Scam Alert: Beware of fraudulent ‘loan’ offers using UNICEF's name

UNICEF in Bangladesh is aware of fraudulent activities, including a fake website and a fake app, that are copying UNICEF’s logo and brand assets to impersonate our corporate channels, de-fraud people and steal their personal information and money.

UNICEF never asks for money to apply for jobs; we DO NOT issue loans; PLEASE contact UNICEF at: infobangladesh@unicef.org to verify before giving any information to anyone purporting to be UNICEF.

Such fraudulent correspondence may appear legitimate: they may feature a UNICEF logo, appear to originate from an official-looking UNICEF app, or they may be sent by individuals purporting to represent UNICEF or an entity which includes the word UNICEF in its name. These fraudulent schemes mislead individuals to extract money and/or personal information.

Please note that UNICEF does not give loans on any channels and ask for personal information. Never divulge personal and banking information or send money if you are unsure of the authenticity of any communication in the name of UNICEF. Financial loss and identity theft could result from the sending of money or personal information to those issuing such fraudulent correspondence.

Previously, fraudulent job offers using UNICEF logo were also circulated in return for the payment of fees or providing personal and banking information.

We encourage you to remain alert, avoid visiting any unofficial links/websites and downloading phone app claiming to be UNICEF, and stay informed by official UNICEF sources.

The best way to stay informed, protected and avoid falling for these types of scams and tricks is to know which are the official channels of UNICEF. We invite you to visit our official website: https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh and you can follow us through our social networks: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) | Linkedin

If you fall victim to fraud, it is recommended that you contact immediately local law enforcement authorities. If you wish to report any potentially fraudulent activities related to UNICEF, please contact us.

UNICEF is urgently working with law enforcement to take the illegitimate site and app down and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Examples of fraud:

December 2024 - The screenshot above shows how UNICEF’s brand can be misused for fraudulent purposes. The phishing website (https://www.unicefbd.com/) and app (UNICEF Bangladesh Loan Made Easy), which are not legitimate UNICEF domain/app, claimed to offer loan opportunities in the name of UNICEF and attempted to solicit personal information and money from the recipient. The scammer asked for National ID and other official documents to increase the credibility of the messages. Once approved, scammer(s) ask for processing fee (1-2% of the loan amount). A wrong UNICEF logo and branding were also applied in the email.