New tricks

New tricks

From Media Indonesia

At 9 a.m. on May 22, my family in Jember, East Java, received a telephone call from a man who told them that I had been in a traffic accident and was about to be operated upon (an amputation) at an international hospital in Surabaya. The caller asked my family to immediately transfer the amount of Rp 5,700,000 for the operation, by 10 a.m. at the latest on that day. Without the money the operation would not be performed and the caller said that I could not be saved. He asked my family to contact Dr. Budi Santoso (cell phone number 0818 948 352) or Dr. Binhadi (0818 794 295) and to transfer the money to account number 531-10-02283.1 in the name of Dr. Binhadi at Lippo Bank.

My family was shocked, panic-stricken and confused. They were about to respond to the caller's request. Fortunately, before making the transfer, my family contacted me on my cell phone (in Surabaya). The news startled me. I assured them that the news was not true and that it was a new way of cheating people. Although my family did not suffer any material loss because they did not transfer the money, they experienced a psychological impact due to the frightening news.

I am writing this to warn people about the possibility of such tricks. They should not panic excessively. They should first check such news, asking about the hospital, the room number, etc.

I appeal to those who cheat to stop their practices. They should not look for money by cheating other people. There are many honest ways to earn a living. If they are religious people they must know that their deeds will not escape God's attention.

Lippo Bank should pay attention to the above account number. If necessary, the identity of the account holder must be given to the police and the account blocked because the bank is facilitating a crime. Cell telephone operators pay attention to the two numbers above. The police should note that this new way of cheating people.

M. KHOIDIN

Jember, East Java