Padel Racket Business Fraudster Who Defrauded Woman of 300 Million Rupiah Identified as Drug Offence Recidivist
Jakarta — The perpetrator of an online fraud scheme targeting a woman from Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta, for 300 million rupiah under the guise of a padel racket business, has been identified as a recidivist drug offender.
AKP Alexander Tengbunan, the head of the criminal investigation unit at Grogol Petamburan Police Station, stated that the fraud executor learned about the fraud network and studied the modus operandi whilst detained in a correctional facility.
“The suspect has a drug case background and spent considerable time in prison. It was there that he encountered an online fraud group,” Alexander told Kompas.com on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
It subsequently emerged that FR, initially identified as the perpetrator, was actually the suspect’s wife who was harbouring the proceeds of her husband’s criminal activity.
Alexander explained that the perpetrator exploited a 20-year friendship between the victim and GJ to lure them with promises of substantial profits from a fictitious business venture.
“Initially, the victim was enticed to invest in a padel racket business. The victim, interested in joining the business, transferred approximately 300 million rupiah,” Alexander explained.
After the funds were transferred, the victim’s contact was immediately blocked and the perpetrator became unreachable.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the perpetrator resided in Langkat, North Sumatra.
“After locating the address, under instructions from Police Station Commander AKP Reza Aditya, we immediately travelled to Langkat to apprehend the suspect and succeeded,” Alexander stated.
“Our legal system is now more rehabilitative and restorative in nature. The victim in this case chose to pursue restitution rather than prosecution. We offered the victim the option of an amicable settlement, and if agreeable, the funds would be transferred back, concluding the matter there,” Alexander added.
The victim, identified as Lenny, a resident of Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta, reported losing 300 million rupiah to the online fraud scheme.
The perpetrator executed the fraud by impersonating the victim’s longtime friend, initially identified by the initials GJ, and offering a limited edition padel racket business investment opportunity.
The incident began on Thursday (5 March 2026) when the victim received a WhatsApp message and call from someone claiming to be their old friend with the initials GJ.