Rising E-Ticket Scams: Public Urged Not to Trust Easily

JAKARTA – The proliferation of electronic ticketing or Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (ETLE) is being exploited by unscrupulous individuals to scam the public. The methods are increasingly varied, ranging from text messages (SMS) to WhatsApp containing threats of traffic violations, complete with suspicious links that appear to come from the official system. The public is urged not to trust such messages easily. This is because perpetrators typically exploit victims’ panic to prompt them to click links or provide personal data. Without vigilance, important data and money could disappear in an instant. The content often includes threats, pressure, and requests for personal information. Additionally, the embedded links frequently lead to suspicious sites that do not use the official Indonesian National Police domain, namely “.polri.go.id”. Victims are often asked to transfer money to certain accounts outside the official mechanism. Moreover, the sender’s name usually uses the E-Ticket identity, not a personal number like in typical SMS scams. The Director of Registration and Identification (Dirregident) of Korlantas Polri, Wibowo, emphasised that the public should not respond to such messages. “There are many hoax flyers like this. But we’ve countered many at NTMC. The public can directly check with NTMC,” he said. He also stressed that the ETLE enforcement mechanism does not involve such threatening messages or requests for personal data. With the increasing prevalence of scams masquerading as public services, vigilance is the key. If receiving suspicious messages related to electronic tickets, the best steps are to stay calm, avoid clicking links, and immediately verify through official channels such as NTMC or the nearest police station.