Con men target direct dial users

JAKARTA (JP): Telecommunications company PT Indosat warned telephone owners on Wednesday about unidentified groups using the firm's name to cheat customers who use the 001 code for international calls.

The company's spokesman, JP Basuki, said the groups, for example, rang subscribers to inform them they had won a car in a lottery held by PT Indosat.

"To get the car, the winner should first pay a certain amount into a bank account as an administration fee," Basuki said.

Even though customers have transferred the money, they never received the cars as promised.

"We have received similar complaints from a number of customers," he said, adding that Indosat never holds such lotteries and had nothing to do with the groups.

He suggested Indosat users call 021 3869183 if they receive any such calls.

Similar to many public service lines, the number was left unanswered when The Jakarta Post rang the line several times on Wednesday afternoon. (bsr)