How can you fall for such a con? It often starts when a person innocently announces something to sell. For example, a woman receives a new handbag and decides to sell it via an online advertisement or newspaper. A scammer calls and says he wants the bag. But he lives far away, then it will transfer the money to the bank account of the woman, then send a mail to collect the product. The woman checked later, his account balance at an ATM and sees the transfer was not done, so she called the buyer. He told her to check again, and gives a series of instructions - in which it transfers his money. Hard to believe, but this kind of scam is common. Victims say fraudsters have hypnotic voice and sometimes pose as bank staff.
A man named Teddy received several calls of interest after advertising his West Jakarta home for sale. A potential buyer who claimed to be based out of town, phoned several times to ask about the condition of the house and said he would buy it. The two sides agreed to a price, with the buyer promising to transfer money via ATM. No funds came through when Teddy BCA checked his account, so he phoned the buyer, who told him: "Sorry sir, there may be a problem with the bank, as I made the transfer. I will visit BCA and inform them of the problem. "
The fraudster soon called back, this time on the line with a woman posing as a representative of BCA service. She advised Teddy insert their ATM card, key in their PIN and follow his . instructions Convinced he was talking to a real employee BCA, Teddy fact that the woman said, and they said, "Thank you, the money was transferred to this side in your account please check. your account in minutes. "
Teddy waited a few other people to use the ATM, then checked his savings account, waiting to see a fortune. He was horrified to see her reduced to balance Rp.10,000. Realizing he had been tricked, he called the bogus buyer, but there was no answer.
At least five doctors fell for a similar scam last year. They had received an SMS text message inviting them to a conference of the Indonesian Doctors Association in Bali, where they would be given Rp.5 million to cover their flights and accommodation. When calling a number provided by fraudsters, each doctor said to go to an ATM and follow "coded instructions" to get the money transferred to their accounts. Doctors have duped unknowingly transferred to a of about Rp.100 million. The Police later arrested the swindlers.
Another doctor, Haryati Amantjik, received a fake letter "Telkom Indonesia" informing her that she had won a good Rp.10 million purchases. She phoned a named contact person Misnan Prayoga, who told him to go to an ATM and follow his instructions. She transferred Rp.24.3 million to the scammer.
Some scammers await victims at ATMs. When a person gets to use the ATM, the scammer claims to be withdrawing money - anywhere from rp.1 million Rp.2.5 million - then starts complaining loudly, "I hit the wrong button I had! transfer this money, not remove it! I urgently need to transfer this money, but I can not because the bank closed. Look, if I give you this Rp.2.5 million in cash, can you if please transfer the amount to the account number? "the money provided by the scammer is always false.
There is more egregiously ATM scam. As you put your card into the slot, someone grabs your arm from behind and claimed you dropped something in your wallet or purse. If you turn around to bend down and pick up the items planted, perhaps scattered business cards, a second person will quickly hit "Cancel", remove your card and replace it with another. When you try to make your transaction, your PIN will not work. Scammers watch you enter your PIN for multiple attempts and memorize the number. They can then rush to another ATM and withdraw your money.