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