Police uncover fake psychics' motorcycle theft scam in Duren Sawit

JAKARTA (ANTARA) - Jakarta Metropolitan Police have uncovered a scam by two individuals posing as fake psychics to steal motorcycles in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta.

“The suspects used the ruse of posing as powerful psychics capable of cleansing bad luck,” said Deputy Director of the General Criminal Investigation Unit, Danang Setiyo Pambudi Sukarno, in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Victim Ilham, 19, lost his motorcycle, mobile phone, and wallet after being duped by the suspects.

“The motive is economic gain. The suspects aimed to unlawfully take the victim’s property,” Danang said.

The incident began when the victim was sitting alone on his motorcycle. Suspect RAT approached him, pretending to ask for directions to someone needing treatment.

Then suspect AJ arrived, claiming to have been treated by RAT. The victim began to believe the suspects’ story.

During the journey, the victim was stopped and told he was experiencing severe bad luck.

The nail was wrapped with the victim’s money, and he was ordered to discard the bundle 50 metres from the location.

As the victim walked away, the suspects fled with his motorcycle.

Police, upon receiving the report, conducted an investigation and successfully arrested RAT in Cilincing on 23 May 2026 and AJ in Semper the following day.

During the arrests, police seized evidence including the victim’s Vivo mobile phone, the suspects’ motorcycle, and several of the suspects’ mobile phones.

Meanwhile, police are still searching for the victim’s motorcycle.

Investigators have charged the suspects under Article 477(1)(g) and/or Article 492 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) under Law No. 1 of 2023, with a potential prison sentence of up to seven years.

Police have urged the public not to trust strangers offering medical treatments, cleansing rituals, or supernatural practices in public spaces.