Romance Scammers Increasingly Adept At Deceiving Victims
Many victims of romance scams via dating apps have good educational backgrounds and established jobs.
By
INSAN ALFAJRI, DHANANG DAVID ARITONANG, IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM, ANDY RIZA HIDAYAT
·7 minutes read
IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM
Tinder profile Faris Ahmad Faza (31) when he was active on Tinder in Purwokerto, Central Java, last May-November 2021. Faza has been reported to four police stations in Purwokerto, Kediri and Tulungagung.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The alleged perpetrators of romance scams are becoming increasingly adept at deceiving victims. Even though many victims are well-educated and cautious, they were still deceived.
A resident of Purwokerto, Central Java, CB (33), initially had doubts about Faris Ahmad Faza (31). The man, whom she met on Tinder in May 2021, claimed to be the son of a kiai and nephew of the 2008-2013 governor of Central Java, Bibit Waluyo. “At first I didn't believe it. From his looks, he's not convincing,” said CB, who was working as a financial analyst at a bank at the time.
Faza, who was from Semarang, Central Java, racked his brain. After meeting CB, in June 2021, he asked CB not to cut off communication. Faza said that he felt comfortable with CB. This statement effectively opened the door for Faza to improve communication with CB. Before long, Faza frequently called CB "honey".
CB’s suspicion began to fade and she accepted Faza as her “lover”. At this stage, Faza went deeper into CB's life. He went to CB's parents and said he was serious about their relationship. "From that moment, I started to trust him, was more generous and thought that he was my future husband," said CB who was tricked out of around Rp 60 million (US$4,178.33).
During his relationship with CB, Faza also built relationships with four other women, including IT, a doctor. Upon first being introduced, in August 2021, IT was reluctant to give her phone number when Faza asked for it. Nevertheless, the man, who liked to wear a sarong, kept trying.
He gave his phone number in advance to IT. "0838491959xx, that's my WA [Whats App number] if you want WA," said Faza. Not only that, he confessed that his older sister and mother were doctors, like IT. "That's why I’m still confident in trying to get to know you, even though you refused to give your WA," Faza said.
IT's firm stance also collapsed eventually. She started to have a relationship with Faza in which she ended up losing almost Rp 80 million in less than three months. IT had to pay off online loan instalments after being tricked by Faza.
IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM
A victim of a romance scam examines evidence related to the perpetrator Faris Ahmad Faza (31) in Kediri City, East Java, Saturday (4/4/2022). Throughout 2021 to early 2022, 9 Faza victims have been found in Central Java and East Java.
Mitigation efforts
Another of Faza’s victims, LL (25), in Kediri, East Java, was suspicious when Faza asked to switch his chatting app from Line to WhatsApp. The law student at a university in Kediri found the time to check Faza's cell phone number on a contact-tracking app.
On Line, Faza admits that his name is Putro. The information on the contact-tracking app revealed that Faza's mobile number is Putra Faris. Putro and Putra are similar. Therefore, LL was no longer suspicious. LL opened her heart and became Faza's lover from December 2021 to February 2022. When they were lovers, LL was exploited by Faza until her savings ran out and she was entangled in tens of millions of online loan debt.
A number of dating apps actually remind users not to be fooled when looking for a date. The Bumble app, for example, provides some tips for detecting romance scammers. One of the characteristics of a romance scam, according to this app, is that the perpetrator avoids meeting face-to-face, as quoted by bumble.com.
The investigation into the four alleged perpetrators, from March to April, however, showed that they did not hesitate to meet the victims. In fact, after their real identities were revealed, some were still spinning a myriad of fictional stories in order to take the victim’s money.
In fact, the alleged perpetrators used the revelation of their real identities to convince the victim, as Faza did when persuading IL, in Tulungagung, East Java. "If I had bad intentions, why would I be willing to meet you on a video call? I also send photos and more,” said Faza when he asked IL to open an online loan.
The same thing was done by Mohammad Iqbal Pangestu (29) when his true identity was revealed to WT (25), a female BUMN employee in Semarang, Central Java. WT was suspicious because Iqbal introduced himself as Ananda Resya, a name that is different from the identity on his identity card.
Iqbal argued that Ananda Resya was a nickname. "I'm sorry, I've never cheated anyone, it’s just a nickname," he said. Hearing this, WT's suspicions subsided.
Eko, a member of WT's family, also had suspicions about Iqbal. Eko asked about Iqbal's social media account. "If I don’t have [a social media account], then what? I don’t see the use of it. If I have to argue just because of the social media issue, I think it’s ridiculous," he said. And again Iqbal survived with that statement.
DHANANG DAVID
Iqbal's home area, one of the perpetrators of a romance scam, is in Tangerang Regency, Banten. AJ (53). Iqbal's father lived in this area.
It was revealed
Iqbal was only unmasked after he repeatedly refused to meet to discuss WT's online loan debt, which had reached tens of millions of rupiah. Due to constant pressure, Iqbal cut off communication with WT at the end of January 2022.
The investigation also revealed that the alleged perpetrator used dating apps and social media only as an “entry point”. After getting acquainted with the victim, they quickly switched the chat to a personal chat application, such as WhatsApp.
With a more personal chat application, the victim is more available for communication. When the victim's smartphone is not connected to the internet, for example, the victim can be contacted via the cellular number that has been shared.
According to a commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Siti Aminah Tardi, romance scammers deceive victims by offering comfort, lures and promises. When an emotional bond is established, the abuser begins to take advantage of the victim. It can take the form of financial and sexual benefits.
I was asked to wire the money to an account number belonging to an Indonesian man, who turned out to be just a middle-man to hold the money.
With female victims, perpetrators take advantage of social constructs that see marriage as an achievement. Women are considered more dignified only when they are married.
Therefore, the promise to marry the victim is an effective way to break the victim's defenses. "They understand that a woman, when she is offered love and comfort, will give everything he asks for," said Siti.
Throughout 2019-2020, Komnas Perempuan received 40 complaints of romance scams. The total loss suffered by the victim reached Rp 5 billion. Komnas Perempuan facilitates victims to report to the cyber directorate of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency.
In a broader context, this investigation found victims who were tricked by foreign perpetrators. TN, a woman from Surabaya, East Java, was deceived by a man claiming to be from England and going to Indonesia as a businessman. TN was taken in by his seduction, until one day she believed the man, who said he would like give her a birthday present.
However, the present was said to be held in Malaysia. If TN wanted a hassle-free shipment, she would have to pay for it. She obeyed the person who contacted her, sending money many times, ultimately amounting to a value of around Rp 200 million. “I was asked to wire the money to an account number belonging to an Indonesian man, who turned out to be just a middle-man to hold the money. He was ordered by someone who was living abroad,” said Ratna, who believed she was being duped by an international syndicate.
