National Revenue Board Exposes Fraudulent Recruitment Letter Targeting Civil Service Aspirants

The National Revenue Board (NBR) has issued a stern warning to public service applicants following the discovery of a forged appointment letter circulated under the agency’s official seal. The bogus circular, which surfaced recently, fraudulently claims that eight candidates have been appointed to the post of Office Assistant-cum-Computer Typist within the country’s central tax authority.

Confirming the fraudulent nature of the document on Tuesday, 27 October, NBR Public Relations Officer Alamin Sheikh stated unequivocally that the agency had issued no such appointment letter. He revealed that the administrative signatures, official memo numbers, institutional credentials, and candidate listings were completely fabricated by scammers aiming to exploit prospective civil servants.

Details of the Counterfeit Document

The fraudulent letter bears the date of 15 October 2026 and purports to confirm appointments under Grade-16 of the National Pay Scale, citing a salary band from Tk 21,900 to Tk 52,900. To create a false sense of urgency, the document instructs the eight named candidates to report for duty at the Board Administration Wing of the NBR in Dhaka by 1 November.

To give the scheme a veneer of authenticity, the perpetrators incorporated exact government headers, official physical addresses, references to the agency’s portal, and realistic memo formatting. Furthermore, the document incorporates specific personal details of eight individuals, including their full names, examination roll numbers, parental details, and permanent home addresses. Despite these convincing touches, the tax authority confirmed that the entire correspondence is invalid and warned candidates against acting upon its instructions.

Risks and Safeguards in Civil Service Recruitment

Scams targeting public sector jobseekers remain a widespread concern. Candidates often spend years preparing for competitive recruitment examinations, making them particularly vulnerable to sophisticated deception. Fraudsters typically leverage artificial urgency—such as tight joining deadlines—to pressure victims into handing over large sums of money, original academic transcripts, or sensitive personal data before they have time to verify the claim.

The NBR stressed that the presence of an official emblem, official-sounding designation, or administrative memo number does not guarantee that a document is genuine. Job applicants are strongly advised to cross-check any appointment notification against earlier official recruitment circulars and published exam results.

To safeguard against recruitment fraud, public service applicants should follow several practical verification protocols:

• Official Verification: Always cross-reference appointment offers with officially published recruitment circulars and gazettes on formal administrative portals.

• Direct Inquiry: Contact the relevant administration wing or recruitment division of the issuing authority directly to confirm memo numbers, dates, and candidate lists.

• Financial Vigilance: Exercise extreme caution if any individual or agency demands money, verification fees, or processing charges to secure or expedite employment.

• Data Protection: Refrain from handing over national identity cards, bank account details, or original credentials to unverified entities.

• Record Keeping: Retain copies of any suspicious documents, sender details, and digital communication logs to assist authorities in investigating fraudulent operations.

Government employment relies strictly on transparent, formal selection procedures. Tax officials reminded jobseekers that taking immediate steps to verify suspicious letters with the appropriate administrative authorities is the most effective defence against financial extortion and identity theft.