OD walked to his kiosk at Pramuka Pojok market in Central Jakarta. The kiosk had a desk and a desktop computer. Once he turned on the computer, the wedding invitation vendor began his side job: making counterfeit electronic identity cards, also known as e-ID cards or e-KTPs.
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On Oct. 24, OD walked to his kiosk at Pramuka Pojok market in Central Jakarta. The kiosk had a desk and a desktop computer. Once he turned on the computer, the wedding invitation vendor began his side job: making counterfeit electronic identity cards, also known as e-ID cards or e-KTPs.
“I also have blank cards. They cost Rp 150,000 [US$10.34],” said OD.
The 793-square-meter market has more than 10 other kiosks equipped with computers and printers. Most kiosks in the market have hung banners that promote their services: color printing, printing services for books, invitation cards, banners, ID cards, stickers, and letterheads, and document translation services. The banners do not say anything about making counterfeit e-ID cards. But ask around, and someone will take you to one of the counterfeiters.
We met OD through a middleman. “What do you want to make?” the middleman said.
After replying that we wanted a fake e-ID card, the middleman took us deeper into the market to meet a counterfeiter. This was how we met OD.
OD asked us why we wanted a fake e-ID card. After we told him that we wanted to apply for jobs, he told us that one fake e-ID card cost Rp 650,000. We haggled briefly and settled at Rp 500,000. “Plus a pack of cigarettes, okay?” said OD.
The man, who appeared to be in his 30s, let us watch him as he made the fake e-ID card in his 12 sqm kiosk.
Over 30 minutes or so, OD edited the background of a photograph from dark blue to red. He said that the color corresponded to the birth year stated on the e-ID card. Red was for odd-numbered years, while blue was for even-numbered years.
To create the population ID number (NIK), OD opened a computer file that contained the residence codes for provinces, regencies, municipalities and districts. The codes are combined together to created the NIK for the fake e-ID card.
OD avoided small talk as he made the fake card. Among the few things he said, however, was that people often obtained fake e-ID cards to apply for loans or jobs. At one point as we talked with him, OD grew suspicious and asked about who we were. “You ask a lot of questions. You’re Buser, right?” he asked, referring the police’s Buru Sergap (quick response) unit.
Printing shop
At Pramuka Pojok market is also AN, who sells blank e-ID cards. AN is different from OD in that AN sells both used and new cards. Used blank cards are discarded e-ID cards whose surfaces are sanded down and turned into “blank” cards. AN sells new blank cards for Rp 200,000 each and used blank cards for Rp 150,000 each. He offers discounts for large purchases. “Just buy them from me. They’re always available. If you buy 10 to 50 new cards, I will reduce the price to Rp 150,000 [per card],” he said.
AN said that he sourced new blank e-ID cards from a printing shop. However, he was reluctant to reveal the printing shop’s location. “The factory’s location is a national secret. If you want to buy them, just come to me,” he said.
Blank e-ID cards are also available at East Jakarta’s Pramuka market, not too far from Pramuka Pojok market. Pramuka market is better known for selling medicines, medical equipment and songbirds. However, the market has long been known as a distributing center for counterfeit drugs and documents.
Just like Pramuka Pojok market, blank e-ID cards can be found in Pramuka market by asking the parking attendants who also serve as middlemen. As we entered Pramuka market, two middlemen approached us. When we told them that we were looking for blank e-ID cards, a middleman who introduced himself as Ropli took out a blank e-ID card from his wallet and offered for Rp 100,000.
Ropli asked why we were looking for blank e-ID cards, explaining that the counterfeit blank cards he sold looked very similar to the originals.
Aam, another middleman, offered his counterfeit e-ID service, albeit indirectly and carefully. Instead, we were the ones who brought it up, saying we wanted to make counterfeit e-ID cards.
“Nowadays, I have to be extra careful in offering my services, as the authorities have been watching us lately ahead of the 2019 elections,” he said in the motorcycle parking lot.