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Eight suspects nabbed for swindling via coupons
Multa Fidrus , The Jakarta Post , Tangerang | Fri, 07/03/2009 2:58 PM | City
Serpong police have arrested eight members of a gang that swindled money from people who came across documents they had deliberately placed in public places.
Police said the suspects used two kinds of documents: prize coupons and important documents like property documents and checks.
They made copies of coupons saying the receiver was eligible to receive a Toyota Avanza. The coupons and the documents were placed in a folder and left in places like the roadside. They also wrote contact numbers on the documents.
Unsuspecting pedestrians, for example, would pick up the folder and were expected to take two possible actions. They would try to return the important documents to the owner or try to cash in the coupons. Either way, they were directed to call the numbers provided. Once they made the call, the criminals would direct the victims to wire money to them.
"Coupon recipients and those who found the documents would contact the company office and the check/document owner. They would follow orders to transfer money to bank accounts with the help of hypnosis," Serpong Police chief Adj. Comr. Yuldi Yusman said.
The suspects were Budi Hartono, 20, Haydal Agusman, 17, Iwan Wijaya, 29, Asri, 27, Sudirman, 25, Inpo, 27, Neng Sri, 22 and Sudarno, 41.
He said detectives followed a tip-off and first arrested Budi in Serpong. His arrest led to other seven suspects, nabbed in a house in Pondok Gede in Bekasi.
From the house, detectives confiscated, among others, a basket of coupons, a box of fake documents, eight press machines and nine mobile phones.
Iwan Wijaya, the alleged scam leader, said the group had been operating for a year and had collected Rp 54 million from victims.
Neng Sri, his wife, claimed she was paid Rp 3.9 million monthly for helping Iwan fold the coupons.
The suspects will be charged in violation of Articles 265 and 378 of the Criminal Code, which carry a maximum seven-year prison term.
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