SORONG - The South West Papua Regional Police (PBD) is investigating an alleged online fraud in the guise of a tax officer that has hit a foreign citizen (WNA) from France, causing losses of up to IDR 2.5 billion.
The Director of Special Criminal Investigation of the West Papua Police, Kombes Iwan Manurung, said that the case was being handled by the police after the victim, named Brigitte Pla, the manager of Tabari Dive Lodge who lived and worked in Raja Ampat Regency, reported the alleged crime.
"Yes, there is a report. Currently we are still studying the report and are conducting an investigation," said Iwan in Sorong, Antara, Wednesday, January 21.
Based on the victim's statement, the fraud incident began when the victim was contacted by someone claiming to be an officer of the Sorong Tax Office through a telephone connection from an unknown number.
In the conversation, the perpetrator offered an update to the Tax Identification Number (NPWP) from 15 digits to 16 digits. The perpetrator then sent a link to an application called M-Pajak and asked the victim to download and fill in personal data in the application.
Furthermore, the victim was asked to wait for a verification code and was contacted again to scan the QR code on the grounds of a financial audit by the tax office.
In addition, the perpetrator also asked for the victim's banking token code. Without suspicion, the victim followed all the perpetrator's instructions up to 11 times.
"Not long after, the victim received a notification of a banking transaction on his mobile phone. A total of Rp250 million in funds was recorded as 10 transactions, resulting in a total loss of Rp2.5 billion," said Iwan.
Suspicious, the victim questioned the transaction with the perpetrator. However, the perpetrator argued that the funds were automatically deducted by the tax system and promised a refund.
"After that, the perpetrator could no longer be contacted," he said.
Iwan assessed that the case was suspected of involving an organized online fraud syndicate that operated across regions, with increasingly sophisticated modus operandi through social engineering, the use of fake applications, and manipulation of digital banking systems.
The West Papua Police appealed to the public, especially business actors and foreigners, not to easily believe in calls on behalf of state institutions, not to share OTP codes or banking tokens, and always verify directly to the official office.
He ensured that investigators from the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the South West Papua Police were currently investigating the case by visiting a number of banks to trace the flow of funds as the basis for further disclosure.
"We are coordinating with Bank Mandiri and Bank BRI, then with OJK according to the bank account that was handed over by the victim. That is the gateway to uncovering this online fraud case," said Iwan.
In addition, the police will also coordinate with the Sorong Tax Office to obtain additional information regarding the case.
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