BPKB Loan Scheme Leads to Alleged Fraud, Navy Member Reported to Police in Surabaya

An alleged fraud involving a member of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has emerged in Surabaya. A housewife, Linda Nurhayati (34), claims to have suffered losses of up to hundreds of millions of rupiah and is now seeking attention from the leadership of the unit where the suspect is stationed.

Linda, a resident of Jalan Amir Mahmud, Gunung Anyar, Surabaya, says she became the victim of a Rp134 million scam allegedly perpetrated by her neighbour, a Navy Sergeant Major (Serma) with initials FS, who is stationed at the Surabaya Maritime Health Agency (Lakesla).

The case began in February 2024. At that time, EN, the wife of Serma FS, approached Linda for help in securing a Rp200 million loan using the BPKB of a Mitsubishi Xpander vehicle as collateral.

Linda then contacted her associate, MM, who agreed to provide the loan. An agreement was made in writing between Serma FS and WA, the child of MM.

Problems arose a year later, in June 2025. Serma FS contacted Linda again to borrow the BPKB of the vehicle previously used as collateral, claiming it was to handle vehicle tax and renew the expired number plate.

“The BPKB for the Mitsubishi Xpander was eventually handed over through my mother to EN, Serma FS’s wife, at their home,” Linda stated on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

However, the BPKB has not been returned since then. Linda claims she was told that the vehicle documents along with the car had been taken away by a third party. This situation has put Linda in a difficult position, as the lender is demanding repayment.

“So in the end, I was forced to pay off Serma FS’s remaining debt to MM, amounting to Rp200 million. At that time, Serma FS also did not provide a police report as proof that the BPKB and the car were lost and taken by a third party,” she explained.

Attempts at amicable resolution have also been made. Linda says she has repeatedly asked Serma FS and his wife to take responsibility, either by repaying the debt or providing replacement collateral. However, there has been no progress so far.

In March 2026, Linda even sought help from the local RT chairman to mediate the issue. Unfortunately, the mediation did not yield results.