Federal authorities have shut down multiple websites operated by a Bangladeshi man who raked in nearly $3 million selling fake ID templates online. Zahid Hasan, 29, also known as Zahid Biswas, was slapped with a nine-count federal indictment unsealed in the District of Montana. Talk about a side hustle gone wrong.
Hasan’s digital empire included three websites – Techtreek.com, Egiftcardstorebd.com (and its variant egiftcardstorebda.com), and Idtempl.com. For just a few bucks, customers could snag templates for U.S. passports ($12), social security cards ($9.37), and Montana driver’s licenses ($14.05). Bargain-basement prices for identity theft! These weren’t physical fakes but digital templates where buyers could input their own information.
Digital ID templates for just a few bucks—U.S. passports, social security cards, driver’s licenses. Identity theft never looked so affordable.
The operation ran from at least 2021 through 2025, serving over 1,400 customers worldwide. The scheme unraveled after Hasan accepted Bitcoin payment from someone in Bozeman, Montana on May 13, 2025. That’s when investigators pounced.
U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the charges: six counts of transfer of false identification documents, two counts of false use of passport, and one count of social security fraud. Each of the eight serious charges carries up to 15 years in prison, with the fraud charge adding another potential 5 years. Each conviction could also result in maximum fines of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. Not exactly the retirement plan Hasan probably had in mind.
The investigation was a global affair. FBI’s Billings Division and Salt Lake City Cyber Task Force teamed up with the FBI International Operations Division and Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Together, they tracked Hasan’s cross-border activities and eventually seized all three domains.
These templates weren’t just harmless novelties. They bypassed verification systems for banks, social media, and cryptocurrency platforms. Perfect tools for identity theft, financial fraud, and phishing campaigns. European organizations face heightened risks from such fraudulent identification documents that can compromise their KYC and AML compliance efforts.
For years, Hasan made millions helping criminals steal identities while hiding behind a computer screen in Bangladesh. Now he’s facing serious jail time. Turns out fake IDs can lead to very real consequences.
