Mysterious Individuals Infiltrate Jogja School Orientation to Sell Fake TOEFL Tests, Hundreds of Students Defrauded

A student’s account of falling victim to a TOEFL test scam during the school environment orientation period (MPLS) in Yogyakarta has gone viral. Hundreds of students paid Rp 100,000 for the TOEFL test, which is suspected to have been a fraud scheme.

As reported by detikJogja, the victims said the incident began with a TOEFL socialisation session during MPLS. Around 108 students were gathered in one room. The two socialisation officers were said to have the initials LFN and LYN.

After the socialisation session, students were offered the chance to pay Rp 100,000 for a TOEFL test, a discounted price from the original Rp 400,000. The victims believe this was a psychological trick.

Students were given only 15 minutes to complete payment via QRIS scan.

Not long afterwards, one of the students received information from a pupil at another school that the socialisation session was a scam. Suspicion of fraud grew stronger after the school stated that it had never authorised any transactions during the socialisation.

Furthermore, the students also discovered that the office address and the purchase receipt were fake.

Suci Rohmadi, Head of Planning and Data at the DIY Education, Youth and Sports Office (Disdikpora), said her office had never granted permission or recommendation to the institution named. She said the misuse of her office’s name and that of the DIY Regional Police was misleading.

“Disdikpora DIY has never given permission, recommendation, or official cooperation to that institution. The misuse of the names Dikpora and the Regional Police is an illegal act and a form of misinformation,” Suci explained in a written statement received by detikJogja on Sunday (19/7/2026).

“We urge all members of the public and schools not to easily trust individuals who invoke the name of the office without an official duty letter that can be verified for authenticity,” she continued.

Acting Head of Disdikpora DIY, Muhammad Setiadi, added that the case is now being investigated by the Secondary Education Office (Baldikmen).

“Tomorrow I will update you on the findings of the Baldikmen investigation,” Setiadi said when contacted by detikJogja on Sunday (19/7).