Living In Luxury Boarding Houses In Palmerah Area, Couples Trick Dozens Of Nostrils With Dating Apps

Suspect of dating application fraud/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - A married couple (couple) in Palmerah, West Jakarta is able to meet their daily needs by committing online dating scams. The action can be stopped by the police after a number of victims report.

Are FR (28) and TM alias Shasa (26), the husband and wife live in Grande Palmerah boarding house, West Jakarta. Before finally being arrested, FR and TM had deceived 22 mashers.

The Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Palmerah Police, AKP Roni, explained that in carrying out their actions FR and Shasa had their respective roles.

"TM uses the pseudonym Shasa in a dating application to attract the victims. The one who operates the application is her husband," said AKP Roni, Friday, January 26.

Roni said, after the victim agreed through the dating application, the two made an appointment somewhere to meet. Sasha also took action to meet the victim.

"After the victim and the perpetrator's wife met somewhere, the perpetrator's wife, Shasa, carried out the action," he said.

After meeting, Shasa borrowed the victim's motorbike for various reasons, such as going to the Independent Cash Pavilion (ATM), taking a cell phone (HP) at the boarding house, buying credit or buying food.

After getting the victim's motorbike, Shasa took the victim's motorbike to the perpetrator's boarding house to be handed over to her husband (FR).

"The perpetrator carried out the action at many crime scenes. However, the victim reported five police reports to the police," said Roni.

The five reports were submitted to the Tambora Police on April 17, 2023 (TKP Kemanggisan Village), May 31, 2023 (TKP Palmerah Village) and November 27, 2023 (TKP Palmerah Village). Then December 3, 2023 (TKP Palmerah Village) and January 12, 2024 (TKP Palmerah Village).

"The total loss of the five reports is Rp. 58 million. From the perpetrator's statement, there are still 17 other victims in the West Jakarta area, apart from the police report. It is still under investigation," said Roni.

Furthermore, said Roni, FR sells motorbikes resulting from fraud through social media and is assisted by SH (37) as a collector who is interested in postings from the perpetrators.

"From the results of the information we got, the money from the sale of the motorbike was used by the two perpetrators to meet the needs of the two perpetrators", said Roni.

To account for his actions, FR and TM were charged with Article 378 and/or 372 of the Criminal Code, while the perpetrator SH was charged with Article 480 of the Criminal Code with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Palmerah Police Chief Kompol Sugiran appealed to the public to be careful and vigilant if they get acquainted through online applications. "Don't easily believe anyone we just met," said Sugiran.

The husband and wife (couple) were arrested on Sunday (14/1) at Grande Boarding House, Jalan U1 Number 40 RT 07/12, Rawabelong, Palmerah, West Jakarta (Jakbar).