Six SMS fraudsters arrested

Six SMS fraudsters arrested

JAKARTA: After operating for a year and obtaining Rp 50
million (US$5,600) by deception, six Short Message Service (SMS)
fraudsters were arrested by the city police.

The messages they sent stated that the receivers had been
nominated as winners of Rp 5 million from the Pro-XL millionaire
lottery. For further information the receivers had to contact
these numbers: 0818-191-466, 0818-840-428, 0817-917-9545 or 0817-
791-91378, or the web address www.exelcom.co.id.

Several receivers, attracted by the offer, contacted one of
those numbers and were told to pick up a code from automated
teller machines (ATMs) of several banks.

"Later, the culprits would assure the victims that they had
won Rp 5 million that would be transferred to their bank account.
In fact, without realizing it, the victims themselves had sent
money to the fraudsters," explained city police chief of
detectives for general crimes Adj. Sr. Comr. Raja Erisman on
Monday, as quoted by detik.com online news provider.

"Every month, they tricked five to 10 victims from Jakarta and
outside the city," he added.

The six suspects arrested were Dedi, alias Rudi Hantara,
Iswandi Selong, Erwin, Adi Wijaya, Irfan and Sudirman. -- JP