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