West Java Police Reveals Syndicate Of Online Motorcycle Sales Fraud

West Java Police Public Relations Head Kombes Jules Abraham Abast (center)/ANTARA/Rubby Jovan

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the West Java Police revealed an online fraud syndicate with the mode of selling motorbikes by swallowing dozens of victims to a loss of hundreds of millions of rupiah.

The Head of Public Relations of the West Java Police, Kombes Jules Abraham Abast, said the fraud syndicates included three suspects uploading photos of other people's NMAX motorcycles from the OLX application for further sale through their Facebook accounts at a lower price.

"When someone is interested, the suspect directs the victim to meet the original owner of the vehicle by manipulating the victim and then saying the owner of the vehicle is his brother-in-law," Jules said in Bandung as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, July 18.

Jules revealed that the suspects with the initials AM, FD and CTI directed the victim to transfer some money into his account.

Not only that, the suspect also communicated with the original owner of the vehicle and said that there was a friend who wanted to buy a motorbike as well as check his vehicle.

"When the victim has finished checking, the suspect told the original owner that the payment will be made directly by the suspect through an account on the grounds that his friend will make credit payments to the suspect," he said.

After feeling cheated, the victim immediately reported to the West Java Regional Police and then conducted an investigation to arrest the three perpetrators in Balikpapan.

The total profit earned by the suspect from the proceeds of the crime is approximately 200 million rupiah. With approximately 20 victims, the average sales per unit start from Rp. 15 million to Rp. 20 million," Jules said.

The perpetrators AM and FD have the role of looking for photos of motorbikes to advertise. Meanwhile, CTI plays a role in accommodating the proceeds of the crime.

For their actions, the three suspects were charged with Article 45A paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 28 paragraph 1 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 11 of 2024 concerning both Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning information and electronic transactions, with a maximum threat of six years in prison.