Indragiri Hilir Police catches a foreign citizen (WNA) from Nigeria for a scam on social media.

The perpetrator, James (35), with the reason to marry his victim, who became a widow with the initials AS (53), is a resident of Tembilahan City, Indragiri Hilir.

“James is the mode to marry the victim by saying he will retire from military service (the American army) and confess that he will stay in Indonesia,” said Police Chief of Indragiri Hilir AKBP Dian Setyawan, accompanied by Head of Criminal Investigation Unit AKP Indra and Head of Public Relations Sub-Section AKP Warno, during a press conference at Indragiri Hilir Police Headquarters, 27 November 2020.

Also, four Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Jakarta is involved in this scam. Three of them were female with the initials GU (29), TA (34), and SF (27), and a male AZ (32).

“The victim became acquainted with the owner of the Facebook account on behalf of Aamir Rafiq last September, which was followed by a conversation via Messenger and WhatsApp,” said Indragiri Hilir Police Chief.

In the conversation, Aamir Rafiq promised the victim that he would send US $ 1,500,000 (one million five hundred US dollars) equal to IDR 22,500,000,000 for investing in Indonesia.

“Subsequently, the victim was contacted by someone claiming to be Julia, who is SF as an agent of the Courier Expedition on James’s orders. She is notifying that the money sent by Aamir Rafiq of US $ 1,500,000 had been disbursed and asked the victim to send money via transfer IDR 271,520,000 to one of the top banks to AZ account, ” he said.

While AZ opened an account at GU’s request, GU was asked to open an account by TA, from TA himself asked by SF alias Julia as a courier expedition. They are solid and knew the mode.

“James himself is the mastermind of all these scams. The five perpetrators were arrested in Jakarta on 22-23 November 2020 and brought to Indragiri Hilir Police for further investigation,” said the Police Chief.

In addition to five perpetrators, the evidence was secured with 6 handphones and a savings book as tools used by the perpetrators to do scams. The perpetrators were subject to article 378 Jo 55 Jo 56 and or 480 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code and article 28 paragraph 1 of Law no. 11 of 2008 concerning ITE with 4 years imprisonment.

James admitted to reporters that this was the first time he had committed a scam.

“Only once I did a scam. I’ve lived in Indonesia for 4 years and have been married to an African. Also, there is my ex-wife here (one of the perpetrators, SF is James’s ex-wife),” he said.