Lampung - The Lampung Regional Police (Polda) has uncovered a case of electronic information and transaction (ITE) crime in the form of love scamming involving threats and extortion against a private teacher in Lampung.
"This case was revealed based on a report received in 2025. Where a suspect with the initials MAH was arrested in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, on January 23, 2026," said Deputy Director of Special Crime (Wadirkrimsus) of the Lampung Police AKBP Yusriandi Yusrin as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 4.
He said the perpetrator was arrested through cooperation with the Makassar Police and was immediately taken to the Lampung Police for further legal purposes.
"In this case, the perpetrator threatened to spread the victim's edited photo if the victim did not send a certain amount of money. Although the requested amount is relatively small, namely around IDR 3 million, the request is made repeatedly," he said.
He said that this case was known to have started in 2021, when the perpetrator and the victim got acquainted through social media. The relationship continued to video call sex (VCS) communication. Without the victim's knowledge, the perpetrator recorded the conversation screen and used it as a tool to blackmail.
"Over time, the victim felt depressed due to the threats that the perpetrator continued to make until he finally sent money totaling around Rp. 70 million. Finally, on January 20, 2025, the perpetrator again asked for money from the victim," he said.
He said that from the results of the arrest, the police secured a number of evidence in the form of one mobile phone, one SIM card and provider, a WhatsApp account used by the perpetrator, and a bank account suspected of being a means of storing funds from crimes.
"For the crime, the suspect is threatened with a maximum sentence of six years in prison or a fine of Rp. 1 billion. We also urge the public to be more careful in making friends on social media, especially with people who are not known directly, to anticipate the risk of becoming a victim of love scamming," he said.
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