Bantul Police Remind Residents To Beware Of Fraud Modes Asking For Donations

Bantul Resort Police Headquarters, Yogyakarta Special Region (ANTARA/Hery Sidik)

BANTUL - Bantul Resort Police, Yogyakarta Special Region, reminded people in this area to be aware of fraud by asking for donations following the arrest of several donors who were troubling residents in the Pajangan area. "We invite the public to always be careful and alert with various modes of fraud, especially asking for donations without permission," said Head of Public Relations of Bantul Police Iptu I Nengah Jeffry Prana Widnyana in a press statement in Bantul, Tuesday, August 15. The public must be vigilant and increase caution over the presence of unknown donation applicants. Whereas previously in the Pajangan area there had been cases of theft in empty houses under the guise of asking for donations. "Requesters for donations to the community need to get permission, at least from the head of the local RT before going to residents' homes," he said. The Pajangan Police on Monday secured several applicants for donations at Sendangsari, Pajangan, after residents reported being visited by two foreigners asking for donations 'door to door' and not accompanied by permission from the head of the local RT. "Officers secured both of them at the Mangir Lor Hamlet and were then taken to the Pajangan Police Headquarters (Mapolsek) for questioning," said Jeffry. He said from the information obtained that their group numbered nine people. After searching, the other seven people were found in the Pijenan Pandak area and then taken to the Pajangan Police Headquarters. "By officers, the nine people were then given an understanding of how to ask for good donations so as not to violate the regulations and not disturb residents," he said.

From the information examined, he said, the applicant for donations on behalf of a boarding school foundation in Indonesia asked for donations for the construction of one of the Islamic boarding schools. Of the nine people, Rp903,000 has been collected.