Police Uncover Online Fraud Cases, Brain Crimes Turns Drug Convicts For Life

Karo Penmas Public Relations Division Police Headquarters Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan (DOK VOI/Rizky AP)

JAKARTA - The Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police revealed a criminal case of online fraud from behind the Correctional Institution (Lapas). The mastermind of the crime in this case is a life convict in a narcotics case with the initials AAS.

"The perpetrators are currently inmates and/or prisoners who are still serving their sentences. The perpetrators are prisoners who are currently serving a life sentence for drug-related cases," said Karo Penmas of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan to reporters, Tuesday, January 18.

The disclosure of this case stems from a report by a person with the initials RO in September 2021. Based on that report, the Directorate of Cyber Crime and Criminal Investigation took steps to investigate.

From the investigation process, it was revealed that AAS convicts did not work alone. Because, he was assisted by two others, namely H and AZP. They are also known ex-convicts.

"The main suspect was AAS, then assisted by H and AZP. There are two friends who will also later become suspects who are former members of the inmates. So the perpetrators are the inmates who helped are former inmates," said Ramadhan.

In this fraudulent act, the mode used was friendship on social media. After making friends, AAS began to communicate intensively. "After being friends, they asked each other for phone numbers and WhatsApp numbers," said Ramadhan.

At this time, the suspect AAS launched his action. He claimed to be a member of the National Police who served in Medan. The goal is for the victim to believe and be able to deceive him.

"After that, the person concerned admitted that he was a member of the National Police and later admitted to serving in the city of Medan who was about to move to Jakarta. Then to convince the victim he sent documents for mutation or transfer to convince and also seduce the victim," said Ramadhan.

After the suspect and victim are familiar enough, then the fraudulent action is launched. The suspect asked the victim to send some money. In fact, the total is in the hundreds of millions.

"After being more familiar, the suspect asked the victim for help for various reasons. Then the suspect sent a bank account and then asked for a transfer to the victim and the money was sent to the victim to an account that had been given, using a friend's account," said Ramadhan.

Until finally, two suspects were arrested in Rokan Hilir, Riau. However, Ramadhan did not specify the prison where AAS is located.

For his actions, the three suspects are suspected of violating Article 51 paragraphs 1 and 2 Jo Article 35 and/or Law No. 19 of 2016 concerning amendments to Law 11 of 2008 concerning ITE and/or Article 263 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 55 to 1 in conjunction with 378 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 5 and Article 10 of Law 8 of 2010 concerning the prevention and eradication of money laundering and or Article 82 in conjunction with Article 85 number 3 of 2011 concerning the transfer of funds.