Potorono Man Loses Thousands of Dollars in Money-Doubling Scam

A man identified by the initials BA, a 36-year-old resident of Mayungan Salakan, Potorono, Banguntapan, Bantul, has become a victim of a money-doubling scam. As a result, BA lost thousands of US dollars. Police who received the fraud report immediately pursued the perpetrator, identified as SN, 56, until he was arrested. Bantul Police Public Relations Head, Iptu Rita Hidayanto, revealed how the incident began. The fraud started when the victim, BA, received a phone call from a man on Saturday, 27 June. The caller claimed to have an associate, SN, who was capable of multiplying money. To convince the victim, the perpetrator also sent several videos and photos regarding the money-doubling process. ‘Having been taken in by the videos and photos about money doubling, the victim became interested and eventually met SN in Potorono,’ Rita told reporters on Saturday, 18 July 2026. At the time, BA brought a sum of money in US dollar currency. The details included 55 notes of USD 100, one note of USD 50, and one note of USD 5. ‘The victim then handed over the money in US dollars, which when converted to rupiah amounted to around Rp100 million,’ she said. SN then asked the victim to wait outside the house, on the pretext of performing the money-multiplying ritual. ‘After waiting, the perpetrator did not come back to the victim. It turned out the perpetrator had run off with all the victim’s money and did not return,’ she explained. Realising he had been scammed, BA immediately reported the incident to the Banguntapan Police. The Banguntapan Police, upon receiving the report, immediately launched an investigation. ‘SN was eventually apprehended in Prenggan, Kotagede, not long ago,’ she said. In addition to arresting SN, police also secured a number of pieces of evidence, including a money changer envelope along with a currency exchange receipt, an envelope containing pieces of brown paper suspected to have been used as part of the scam, a Honda Beat motorcycle, a helmet, a jacket, the vehicle registration document, and Rp800,000 in cash. ‘SN has now been named a suspect and is detained at the Banguntapan Police station,’ she stated. For his actions, the suspect is charged under Article 492 of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code on fraud and/or Article 486 of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code on embezzlement.