60-Year-Old Man Posing as Social Services Official Arrested for Defrauding Jembrana Residents

A 60-year-old man with the initials IKS has been arrested by the Jembrana Police Criminal Investigation Unit for posing as an official from the Bali Social Services Agency to swindle money from his victims. Jembrana Police Chief AKBP Kadek Citra Dewi Suparwati stated that the suspect pretended to be a provincial social services employee and lured victims with promises of cash assistance for home and place of worship renovations. The fraud came to light after two victims, Septi Muslihatin (43) and Ni Luh Gede Sri Utami (26), filed police reports on 30 June 2026. The first incident occurred in Banjar Yeh Kuning, Pekutatan Village, on 24 May 2026, followed by further acts in Lingkungan Munduk Anyar, Tegalcangkring, on 24 and 25 June 2026. Following the reports, the police investigation led to the suspect’s arrest without resistance in Banjar Yeh Kuning on 29 June 2026. During questioning, the suspect admitted to the fraud. Police revealed that IKS, a labourer by trade, had been carrying out similar scams since 2022. In the latest spate of offences between May and June 2026, six crime scenes were identified across Jembrana, with five resulting in material losses for victims. The victims were spread across Melaya, Mendoyo, and Pekutatan districts, with reported losses ranging from IDR 500,000 to IDR 1.3 million. The suspect’s methods included offering fictitious home renovation programmes, places of worship repairs, and School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds, then requesting money for administrative fees, stamp duty, and other expenses. Police seized a Honda Vario motorcycle, a mobile phone, photocopies of identity cards, an envelope containing stamp duty and victim signatures, and IDR 302,000 in cash. The suspect faces charges under Article 492 of the Indonesian Criminal Code for fraud, carrying a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment. Authorities have advised the public to verify any offers of assistance with local village or sub-district officials and to never share personal data, PINs, passwords, or OTP codes, nor to transfer money for the processing of aid.