Bandung Man Used AI-Generated Photo in Police Uniform to Deceive Victim
The Bandung City Police have arrested a man with the initials S (40) who allegedly used an artificial intelligence (AI) generated photo of himself wearing a police uniform to convince his victim before taking Rp600,000 in cash.
Andir Police Chief Commissioner Triyono Raharjo said in Bandung on Friday that the incident occurred on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Maleber Urban Village, Andir District, Bandung City, on Tuesday (11/8) at around 7.30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time.
“After we carried out a check, the suspect’s mobile phone did indeed contain a photo of the suspect using AI wearing a police uniform,” he said.
Triyono said the incident began when the victim left his house to buy cigarettes and was stopped by S, who was riding a motorcycle.
The suspect then asked whether the victim was carrying drugs and claimed to be a police officer.
“When he was stopped, the victim was asked by the suspect whether he was carrying drugs or not. Because he felt afraid and was not carrying drugs, the victim allowed the suspect to carry out a check,” he said.
According to police, the victim then handed his wallet to the suspect to be examined.
When the victim was off guard, S allegedly took Rp600,000 in cash from the wallet before returning it and leaving the location.
The victim only realised his money was missing when he was about to make a payment at a shop.
Triyono said the AI-generated photo showing S wearing a police uniform was used to convince the victim that he was a police officer.
Based on the examination results, S is a resident of Medan who had just arrived in Bandung and was temporarily staying at a relative’s house.
S admitted that he had only committed the act once because he needed money to send to his child in Medan.
“Based on the suspect’s confession, he only committed the crime once because he was desperate to send money to his child in Medan,” he said.
For his actions, S is charged under Article 482, Article 476, and/or Article 492 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code with a maximum prison sentence of nine years.