Police Uncover Facts in Case of Money-Doubling Shaman in Bogor

A man named Mahfud alias MP (39), who was counterfeiting money, was arrested in a hotel room in the Kemang area, Bogor Regency, West Java. The perpetrator claimed to be a money-doubling shaman.

Police conducted an investigation for nearly two weeks in this case. The Subdit Ekbang team from Ditreskrimsus Polda Metro Jaya then raided a hotel on Jalan PWRI Pondok Udik, Kemang Subdistrict.

During the raid, police arrested suspect MP along with evidence of one crate of counterfeit money.

“After that, the suspect and the evidence were taken to Polda Metro Jaya for further investigation,” said Deputy Director of Reskrimsus Polda Metro Jaya AKBP Martuasah Tobing during a press conference at Mapolda Metro Jaya, Jakarta, on Wednesday (1/4/2026).

Kasubdit II Ekbank Ditreskrimsus Polda Metro Jaya 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 he could ‘double money’.

“The suspect prepared a box to convince potential victims in the money-doubling scheme. In reality, the ‘doubled’ money was actually counterfeit,” said Robby.

“So when the victim hands over money as offered by the suspect, the result of the doubling is fake money. That’s why he had also prepared the box,” he added.

Using Cardboard and Printer

Police revealed the perpetrator’s method of duplicating money. The perpetrator used a printer machine to print counterfeit notes.

“The modus operandi of the suspect is to copy genuine Rp100,000 bills using an Epson brand printer machine with a master printing tool,” said AKBP Martuasah Hermindo during the press conference on Wednesday (1/4/2026).

Martuasah said the perpetrator used cardboard paper cut in a way to resemble genuine money. This money was to be used in the money-doubling scam.

“Then using cardboard, after that the copied result is cut using a Joyko brand cutting tool, scissors, and cutter to resemble genuine money. After that, the copied money was planned to be circulated in society as if it were money doubling or shaman practices,” he explained.

The perpetrator was arrested in a hotel room in the Kemang area, Bogor Regency, which was also the place where he produced the counterfeit money. At the location, police seized several pieces of evidence, including one silver-coloured crate containing counterfeit money worth Rp650 million, a printer machine, and ink.

“The evidence we secured includes counterfeit rupiah notes of Rp100,000 denomination totalling 12,191 sheets. Details: double-sided printed counterfeit money amounting to 64 packs plus 50 sheets, total 6,450 sheets of Rp100,000 counterfeit rupiah notes,” he said.

“Then single-sided printed counterfeit money amounting to 57 packs and 41 sheets, total 5,741 sheets of Rp100,000 counterfeit rupiah notes. Then uncut counterfeit rupiah notes amounting to 65 sheets of Rp100,000 denomination,” he added.

Once Paid Debt with Counterfeit Money

The perpetrator once used the fake money to pay off a Rp30 million debt. However, the lender realised the money was fake and rejected it.

Under the guise of a money-doubling shaman, the perpetrator also planned to carry out the scam in his hometown in the Cianjur area, West Java.

“Indeed, he had made some but not much, only about Rp30 million, intended to pay off debt. He admitted to having made counterfeit money last year,” AKBP Robby Syahfery told reporters on Wednesday (1/4/2026).

Before he could act, the perpetrator was nabbed by Polda Metro Jaya investigators. Robby added that the perpetrator acted alone and the money-doubling shaman ruse was his own idea.

“The suspect had his own idea because he combined genuine money as a master with the underlying paper being cardboard. Four genuine notes were made into one, then according to the printer’s width, it was printed, then cut with a cutting tool,” he explained.

Mahfud has now been named a suspect and detained. Police also seized several pieces of evidence, including one silver-coloured crate containing counterfeit money worth Rp650 million, a printer machine, and ink.

The perpetrator is charged under Article 374 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 375 in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code, with a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.

Targeting Neighbours

The perpetrator initially intended to target neighbours in his hometown in Cianjur.

“Cianjur, West Java. So originally the targets were his fellow villagers,” said Kasubdit II Ekbank Ditreskrimsus Polda Metro Jaya AKBP Robby Syahfery to reporters on Wednesday (1/4/2026).

The perpetrator also planned to take advantage of the Eid al-Fitr 1447 H moment to carry out his scheme. He planned to print counterfeit money worth Rp2 billion, but that intention was thwarted because he was arrested by police in a hotel room in the Kemang area, Bogor Regency.

“Originally the modus was to offer it before Eid al-Fitr, but it hasn’t been carried out and there are no victims so far,” he said.

“So indeed he only planned to target people in his village perhaps. He was just starting, maybe hasn’t reached his goal yet. The target was perhaps up to Rp1 billion or Rp2 billion,” he added.

To date, no victims have been found from Mahfud’s money-doubling scam. The police urge the public who feel they have become victims to report it.

How to Distinguish Fake Money

The counterfeiting action carried out by suspect Mahfud or MP (39) has not yet claimed victims. However, the public is advised to be careful in transactions to avoid counterfeiting.

Head of Public Relations Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Budi Hermanto said that counterfeit money cases are a serious concern because the rupiah is a symbol of national sovereignty as well as a legal means of payment. The circulation of counterfeit money, he said, also has the potential to directly harm the public, especially small business actors and residents who are still