Police Expose AI-Generated 'Pocong Robber' Hoax in Monang-Maning Involving Three Teenagers
Social media in Denpasar was recently abuzz with reports of a ‘pocong robber’ in the Monang-Maning area of West Denpasar. Information shared via Instagram posts on Saturday, 30 May 2026, caused public concern and sparked online speculation.
In response, the Denpasar Barat Police Station’s Investigation Unit conducted a verification process. The investigation pointed to three underage witnesses, identified as N, D, and B.
Denpasar Police Department’s Public Relations Officer, Inspector I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, stated that witness B admitted to creating the image. B allegedly edited a photo of a lane near his residence in Monang-Maning by adding a pocong figure using an AI-based application.
“The image was created on 28 May 2026 and shared on his personal social media status. It later went viral with captions claiming a pocong robber was active in Monang-Maning,” said Adi Saputra.
B claimed not to know who initially took a screenshot of the post, which then spread across various social media platforms.
After field checks and witness testimonies, police confirmed no pocong robber incidents or similar events occurred in Monang-Maning. The circulating information was confirmed as a hoax.
Police urged the public to be cautious about information on social media, particularly visual content that can easily be manipulated using AI technology.
“We urge the public not to readily believe unverified information. Check the source before sharing to prevent public panic,” Adi Saputra said.
According to police statements, N claimed to have first received the pocong image and information from his friend D. Believing the information was important for public awareness, N reposted the photo on his Instagram account with a warning for residents to be cautious if the claim were true.
However, the post spread rapidly and caused public alarm. Meanwhile, D stated he obtained the photo from a social media status showing a pocong figure in Monang-Maning.
Further investigation revealed the opposite. Police confirmed the image at the centre of the panic was a digitally manipulated creation using artificial intelligence (AI).