Inside the $3 Million Fake ID Empire: How a Bangladeshi Website Mogul Fueled Global Identity Theft

When a seemingly ordinary tech entrepreneur in Dhaka, Bangladesh, started selling digital templates for government IDs, few realized he was quietly building a global black market. But this week, US authorities unmasked Zahid Hasan as the architect of a sprawling online operation that armed cybercriminals with the tools to impersonate anyone, anywhere - for less than the price of a pizza.

The Anatomy of a Digital Forgery Ring

Operating under innocuous-sounding brands like Techtreek.com and Idtempl.com, Hasan’s business didn’t ship forged cards. Instead, it offered downloadable templates - meticulously crafted digital files that could be filled in with any name, photo, or number. For as little as $9.37, buyers could purchase a Social Security card template; a Montana driver’s license cost just $14.05.

These templates were more than graphic designs - they mimicked official document layouts, fonts, and security features, enabling even amateur fraudsters to print convincing fakes. The clients? A global roster of over 1,400 individuals seeking to bypass bank verifications, open fraudulent social media accounts, or launder cryptocurrency.

Unmasking the Mastermind

The operation unraveled when Hasan accepted Bitcoin from an undercover contact in Montana. This digital breadcrumb, combined with extensive cyber forensics, led US investigators to his online storefronts. In May 2025, American and Bangladeshi authorities seized Techtreek, Egiftcardstorebd, and Idtempl.com, cutting off a vital supply chain for identity thieves.

The collaborative investigation - spanning the FBI’s Billings Division, Salt Lake City Cyber Task Force, and Dhaka’s Counterterrorism Unit - demonstrates the global reach of cybercrime and law enforcement alike. Prosecutors now allege that Hasan’s low-cost, high-volume business model made sophisticated fraud accessible to thousands worldwide.

Fraud for the Masses: The New Underground Economy

Experts say the Hasan case is a stark warning: digital templates are democratizing identity crime. No longer the domain of expert forgers, fake IDs can be mass-produced with a laptop and a printer. As law enforcement cracks down on such schemes, the cat-and-mouse game between cybercriminals and authorities grows ever more complex.

After the Takedown: What’s Next?

Hasan now faces a mountain of federal charges - each potentially carrying 15 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. But the underlying issue remains: as long as digital blueprints for identity exist, the battle to secure our digital lives is far from over. The question is, who will be the next to profit from this shadowy trade - and who will stop them?

WIKICROOK

• Digital Template: A digital template is a file imitating official documents' layout and security features, enabling easy forgery and posing cybersecurity risks.
• Identity Theft: Identity theft is a crime where someone uses another person's personal data without consent, often to commit fraud or financial theft.
• Domain Seizure: Domain seizure occurs when authorities take control of a website's address, often redirecting users to legal notices to combat illegal online activities.
• Cryptocurrency: Cryptocurrency is a digital currency secured by cryptography, enabling secure, decentralized transactions and often used for both legal and illicit activities.
• Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime Unit: A police team specializing in combating terrorism and cross-border crimes, including cyber offenses, through international cooperation and advanced investigation.