Fraud Rises, Pelni Batam Urges Passengers Not To Buy Tickets Through Brokers On Social Media

Check the entrance ticket for the KM Kelud ship belonging to PT Pelni. (ANTARA)

The rise of fake tickets and fraud cases circulating ahead of Lebaran 2023 homecoming, inter-island crossing passengers in Batam did not buy through brokers on social media (Medsos). Head of Indonesian National Shipping (Pelni) Batam Branch Muhammad Iqbal reminded all prospective Batam-Belawan passengers, Medan City not to buy tickets from brokers to be aware of fraudulent ship ticket sales. "I remind all prospective passengers to be aware of fraud, so they don't buy tickets through ticket brokers, advertisements in social media and payments by transfer to personal accounts," he said when contacted in Batam, Riau Islands, as quoted by ANTARA Saturday, March 25. He explained that Pelni's ship ticket purchases can only be obtained through Pelni's official website, official applications, personnel contacts, sales counters at PT Pelni branch offices, official travel agencies, and modern retail outlets that have already cooperated with PT Pelni. For that, he emphasized, if there are prospective passengers who purchase tickets through brokers, they have the potential to get fake tickets. If that' and from our side know that the ticket is fake, then it is beyond our responsibility. Of course, it cannot get on the ship if the ticket is fake,' he said.

"We also ask all prospective passengers or the public if they find anything like that to immediately report it to us," he also said. For shipping tickets, he said, they can be purchased from the last few days until Eid Al-Fitr via online or come directly to Pelni counters.