Pocong Hoax Causes Panic as Three Teenagers Arrested in Jember

The three suspects, identified as RA (21), MA (19), and FR (19), residents of Patrang District, Jember, are undergoing intensive questioning at the Jember Police Headquarters.

Police have urged the public not to spread hoaxes that cause panic and fear, as this disrupts daily activities, said AKP Agus Yudi Kurniawan, Head of the Jember Police Regional Community Affairs Unit, according to detikJatim on Monday, 25 May 2026.

Meanwhile, Ipda Andry Yunni Prasetiyo, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at Jember Police, confirmed the arrests took place on Saturday, 23 May evening after the manipulated content went viral on TikTok and Instagram.

“Social media has been flooded with netizens’ posts about the frightening pocong sighting video,” he added.

Initial investigations revealed the teenagers’ motive was purely for amusement to boost their social media engagement, according to Andry.

“Their initial intent was simply to prank, cause fear, and go viral by following trends,” he said.

However, the timing of the prank was inappropriate, as Jember’s public security situation is currently sensitive due to rising street crime.

“Given the current surge in muggings and motorcycle thefts, the public has associated the prank with a new modus operandi for crime,” he explained.