INTERNATIONAL CYBER CRIME:
Written by the victim: Neneng Tarigan
"Richard Leo Johnkay", that is what he said his name is in WA (What'sApp) and Facebook. The picture probably fake, also his name, but the cellular phone number is real: +447709073590
He claimed himself as an Independent Contractor, working at Godwin Valley, London, UK.
We've been friends in FB and WA since 5 September 2018.
On 15 September 2018. "Richard" said he wanted to send me a pair of shoes, but on his WA to me 16 September 2018, he shows "the pictures" of so many gifts and US $ 40,000.- which he said, he had sent to me in the package via airway bill of Islander Express Delivery Enterprise Worldwide (IEDE).
On 17 September 2018, at about 09:20am, I got a phone call from from a lady.
"Sylvia", that is what she said her name is in WA (What'sApp). The picture probably fake, also her name, but the cellular phone number is real: +6281281870051
She claimed herself as a staff of Custom & Excise Office, Terminal 2d, Soekarno-Hatta Cengkareng Airport, Jakarta, Indonesia.
"Sylvia" said, I should pay Rp 5million for excise tax of the gifts package, soon, otherwise the Custom will return back the package to London and as the consequence I have to pay $300 penalty for the returning package cost! Further, she said, If I pay Rp 5million, they will return Rp 4.5million because the excise tax is only Rp 500K.
According to "Sylvia", I have to pay the Rp 5million to Saiful Anwar, Mandiri Bank, Account number: 1370015946904
And I paid it as what she said!
After one hour, she sent a WA again and asked that I have to pay another Rp 10million for the penalty, since they found there's cash money inside of the package.
Since I don't have a single penny, I borrowed the money from my relative and paid another Rp10million via mobile banking to Saiful Anwar!
Although, the bank and the data in my bank account proved that Saiful Anwar already received the money, Sylvia didn't admit it.
Suddenly I realized that I had been robbed by international cyber criminals with their links in Indonesia!
1. How could I easily believe; that a much younger man "Richard", would easily in love with a granny like me and generously given such amount of money and gifts? Only after 10 days we got acquaintance in social media? He must be a scammer!
2. I've never seen or received any documents regarding the package, neither from the sender (Richard), nor from the "custom staff, Sylvia". How can I easily trust them?
3. Saiful Anwar, Mandiri bank account is a private account, because no logo or other information following his name to indicate that the account is belong to Custom and Excise Office.
Now in my little bedroom, I'm musing in sorrow for I lost Rp 15 million ($1000) equal to 4 months of my meager salary as a retired civil servant.
Whoever read this, please make it viral, as a reminder for everybody to be careful to communicate with anyone in social media!
BSD, 21st September 2018.