Vendors defrauded with counterfeit bank notes

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vendors operating in economic class trains in greater Jakarta are complaining that they have been cheated by a group of youths who use fake bank notes to buy their merchandise.

A security officer at Pondok Ranji railway station in South Jakarta, Sudiyono, confirmed on Sunday that at least three vendors suffered a combined loss of about Rp 150,000 (US$15).

Antara reported that one of the vendors, Sumarni, said that four young men approached her and bought four pieces of steamed rice, lontong, on the Rangkas Bitung-Tanah Abang train on Saturday evening. Each piece cost only Rp 250, but one of the youths gave Sumarni a Rp 50,000 note saying he needed the change quickly as it was almost time to break the fast. When the train stopped, they hurriedly jumped out with the Rp 49,000 they had cheated from Sumarni.

Sumarni, who suddenly got suspicious, then checked the bank note in a traditional way. She plunged the note into a glass of water and found that it shrank.

She burst into tears when she realized that she had been defrauded.

Besides Sumarni, an apple trader and a drinks vendor were also cheated by a gang of youths with a similar modus operandi.

The traders suffered losses of Rp 42,000 and Rp 45,000 respectively.

The vendors could not properly check the note as the train was crowded and there was not enough light onboard.

Officer Sudiyono said the youths spent the fake note in the train a few minutes before 6 p.m., the time to break the fast.