Kulon Progo Man Arrested for Selling Fake IELTS Certificates, Rakes in Rp 40 Million

A man with the initials GDZ in Kulon Progo has been arrested for selling counterfeit International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificates, with police revealing he made a profit of up to Rp 40 million from the scam. ‘The total amount received by the perpetrator so far is approximately Rp 40 million,’ said the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at the Kulon Progo Police, First Inspector Rifai, when contacted by journalists on Friday (26/6/2026). Rifai explained that the victims’ losses are suspected to be even greater, as they not only paid for the fake IELTS certificates but also spent money on processing passports and visas. ‘The victims’ losses are not just from the money received by the perpetrator, but because the victims then went on to do other things such as arranging passports, visas, and so on, this added to their losses. Some victims spent up to Rp 35 million, others Rp 20 million, and so on,’ Rifai stated.

Separately, the Head of the Kulon Progo Police Criminal Investigation Unit, First Inspector Subihan Afuan Ardhi, explained that GDZ approached victims who were seeking to work in Australia. The perpetrator offered his services to obtain an IELTS certificate without the need to take the actual examination. ‘The perpetrator offered the victims that he could help them obtain an IELTS certificate as a requirement to work in Australia without having to take the test. The victims were then asked to pay an agreed sum of money,’ Subihan said. GDZ convinced the victims that he had a contact in Bandung, West Java, who could process the IELTS certificate without an exam. However, upon investigation, this claim was found to be entirely false. ‘In fact, the IELTS certificates were made by the perpetrator himself using an application on his mobile phone. The certificates given to the victims were fake documents,’ he stated.

Subihan added that once the fake IELTS certificate was ready, the perpetrator would send a digital copy to the victim and request payment as agreed. The victims were also lured with promises that the perpetrator could register them with several companies in Australia. ‘The perpetrator promised the victims they would be registered for jobs at companies in Australia. Because they believed him, some victims went on to process their passports, visas, and other requirements, which increased their losses. In reality, the perpetrator never registered any of the victims with any company in Australia,’ he revealed. Police seized evidence including fake IELTS certificates, proof of money transfers, and an Infinix mobile phone believed to have been used to create the counterfeit documents. For his actions, the perpetrator is charged under Article 45A paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 28 paragraph (1) of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, as well as Article 492 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code on fraud. ‘If members of the public wish to work abroad, they should first consult with the Manpower Office or BP2MI to obtain correct information and avoid becoming victims of fraud,’ he concluded.