Fake Shaman Arrested for Duping Victims with Money-Doubling Scam

A man with the initials LE, aged 51, has been arrested following allegations that he defrauded residents using a money-doubling scheme. The suspect claimed he was capable of multiplying tens of millions of rupiah into billions.

According to the Pancoran Police Station Chief, Kompol Hartono, the incident began when the victim visited the suspect’s residence in Mampang, Pancoran Mas, Depok, on the morning of Monday, 2 March. The victim sought assistance in promoting their business.

The suspect then deceived the victim by claiming he could double their money. The victim was asked to deposit tens of millions of rupiah as a condition for the ‘ritual’.

“The victim was requested by the suspect to deposit a minimum of 30 million rupiah, or one session, and would receive 16 billion rupiah within 41 to 100 days,” Kompol Hartono stated during a press conference at Pancoran Mas Police Station on Friday, 13 March 2026.

To convince the victim, the suspect requested that the victim perform a ritual. His justification was that the ritual had to be carried out in order for the money to multiply ‘perfectly’.

“Through the process, multiple rituals had to be performed until the money became perfect and could be withdrawn by the complainant,” he explained.

The victim brought 2 million rupiah as an advance payment. The ‘money-doubling ritual’ was then conducted in a room with only the victim and the suspect present.

“The suspect then asked that only the two of them be present, with the lights turned off. During the ritual, the suspect was not wearing clothes,” he stated.

During the ritual process, the suspect sexually assaulted the victim. The victim screamed loudly, alerting nearby residents who then apprehended the suspect.

The suspect was secured and reported to Pancoran Mas Police Station. Police identified three victims of the fake shaman.

“The victims’ losses total 87 million rupiah,” he said.

The suspect is now in police custody and has been designated as a suspect. The suspect faces charges under allegations of fraud and possession or use of counterfeit money as stipulated in Article 492 in conjunction with Article 374 in conjunction with Article 375 of Republic of Indonesia Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code, with a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.