Woman Defrauded of Rp 300 Million in Online Padel Racquet Business Scam by Impostor Claiming 20-Year Friendship
JAKARTA — A woman named Lenny, a resident of Grogol Petamburan in West Jakarta, fell victim to an online fraud scheme masquerading as a padel racquet business. She lost Rp 300 million after being deceived by a perpetrator who claimed to be her long-time friend.
The fraud occurred on Thursday (5 March 2026), when Lenny was suddenly contacted by someone via WhatsApp messages and calls. The perpetrator convincingly claimed to be an old friend with the initials GJ, who purportedly had been friends with Lenny for approximately 20 years.
To strengthen the deception, the perpetrator employed various tactics to gain the victim’s trust. He used a profile picture resembling someone she knew, made telephone calls with a convincing voice, and sent false transfer proof.
“He made me believe through convincing phone communication and transfer proof as if from a buyer who had already made a payment,” Lenny explained.
The perpetrator then repeatedly pressured the victim to quickly transfer a large sum of money as part of the business transaction. After Lenny transferred Rp 300 million, the perpetrator immediately blocked her number and became unreachable.
“I was late in realising that I had been hypnotised over the telephone and deceived by that person,” she said.
Initially, the perpetrator claimed to be in North Jakarta. However, investigation traced the perpetrator’s location to Langkat District, North Sumatera.
On the same day, Lenny filed a report and underwent a formal examination report (BAP) at Grogol Petamburan Police Station.
Two days later, on Saturday (7 March 2026), Lenny travelled from Bali to Medan. She undertook approximately seven hours of air travel, followed by two hours of road travel after confirming the perpetrator’s whereabouts.
Upon arrival, she and the Criminal Investigation Unit from Grogol Petamburan Police Station visited the home of a woman with the initials FR in Langkat. However, after the examination, police discovered that the main perpetrator was not FR, but her husband, who is currently incarcerated in Binjai Correctional Institution.