Public warned about con man

Public warned about con man

BOGOR (JP): Bogor mayor R. Iswara Natanegara has warned
the public to be on its guard after an impostor claiming to be
from his office swindled officials from at least seven mosques of
Rp 2.65 million (US$335).

"I appeal to the public to report to the police or contact us
at 356 068 if anybody identifies a person claiming to be a member
of staff from my office," Iswara said in a statement, copies of
which were made available to the mosques here on Tuesday.

He said the unidentified man, often wearing a khaki outfit,
used aliases of Hasan Tisna, Wandi Rachmat and Rochmat.

Witnesses described the man as short, overweight, dark-skinned
and with curly hair. He occasionally wears glasses, the mayor
said.

He said the man succeeded in convincing the mosque officials
that he could help them obtain funds -- ranging from Rp 18
million to Rp 20 million -- from the West Java governor, or
assist in procuring vehicles.

"He asked the victims to give him money, ranging from Rp
200,000 to Rp 500,000, which he said would be used to help
facilitate the disbursement of the fund," mayoralty spokesman
Hari Harsono said. (24/emf>