Origins of the Unmasking of a Fake Shaman Counterfeiting Over Half a Billion in Currency
Jakarta Metropolitan Police have unmasked a fraud involving a shaman promising to multiply money who was counterfeiting over half a billion rupiah in the Kemang area, Bogor, West Java. The actions of the man named Mahfud or MP (39) were exposed following information from the public.
“(It began with) information from the public about someone promising money, and also stating that the money could be multiplied,” said Deputy Head of Criminal Investigation for Special Crimes at Jakarta Metropolitan Police, AKBP Martuasah Tobing, during a press conference at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters, Jakarta, on Wednesday (1/4/2026).
A team from the Subdirectorate of Economic Crime at the Criminal Investigation Directorate of Jakarta Metropolitan Police, led by Head of Subdirectorate AKBP Robby Syahfery and Team I Leader of the Subdirectorate of Economic Crime, conducted an investigation for nearly two weeks in the jurisdiction of Jakarta Metropolitan Police.
Subsequently, after nearly two weeks of in-depth probing and analysis, the Subdirectorate of Economic Crime team carried out a raid at a hotel on Jalan PWRI Pondok Udik, Kemang Subdistrict, Bogor Regency. During the raid, police arrested the suspect MP along with evidence in the form of one box of counterfeit money.
“Then, the suspect and evidence were brought to Jakarta Metropolitan Police for further investigation,” he added.
Fake Money for Money Multiplication Scheme
Meanwhile, Head of Subdirectorate II Economic Crime at Jakarta Metropolitan Police, AKBP Robby Syahfery, stated that the counterfeit money was prepared by the suspect to trap potential victims. The suspect printed the fake money to convince victims that money could indeed be ‘multiplied’.
“The suspect prepared a box to convince potential victims in the money multiplication scheme. In reality, the ‘multiplied’ money was actually fake,” said Robby.
“So when the victim hands over money as offered by the suspect, the multiplication result is fake money. That’s why he had prepared the box,” he continued.
He added that the suspect admitted to having made fake money last year to pay off debts, but it failed to be used because it was detected as not genuine.
For his actions, the suspect is suspected of violating Article 374 of the Criminal Code, Article 375 of the Criminal Code, and Article 20 of the Criminal Code related to counterfeiting, possession, distribution of fake currency, and involvement in criminal acts. Police are currently deepening the case for further development.
Meanwhile, Head of Public Relations at Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Kombes Budi Hermanto, emphasised that the amount of fake money secured in this case totals 12,191 sheets. However, the evidence is not converted to rupiah value because it is not genuine currency.
“We reiterate that the fake money secured by investigators amounts to 12,191 sheets. We do not convert it to rupiah exchange rate because it is not real money,” he said.
Budi Hermanto also advised the public to apply the 3D method (Look, Feel, and Tilt) as well as the use of ultraviolet light to distinguish genuine from fake money. The public is also urged to report to the National Police call centre 110 if they find suspected criminal activities in their surroundings.