The High Price of Love

In the last two days, the Kompas daily published an investigative report on a series of romance scams. A number of people, especially women, have been defrauded in the crime under the disguise of love.

Lately, cases of romance scams have been on the rise in the country. The perpetrators generally use social media and take advantage of information technology to deceive their victims. The romance scammers also use a religious and psychological approach so that the victims are not aware that they are dealing with deceivers. In addition to losing a lot of money, the romance scams also ruin the dignity of the victims. The crimes also damage the good names of the perpetrators’ families (Kompas, 21-22/4/2022).

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Love is blind, so the saying goes. The old music group Koes Plus, in its 12th album in 1974, released a song titled "Cinta Buta" (Love Is Blind). The lyrics of the song are as follows: Blind love, blind love, without eyes and ears. Blind love, blind love, people say it's worthless. Who says, who says, love does not count. Who said, who says, love is worthless.

In the investigation conducted by Kompas, there were also men who became victims of the romance scams. The perpetrators are also not all men. However, it is not easy to pick them up. Such a crime that involved material and immaterial losses has caused disgrace and trauma. A number of victims chose to keep silent. However, some victims have shared their experiences, also through social media, in the hope that there would be no more new victims to fall into the same trap.

Love is blind. Koes Plus reminded us more than 37 years ago that love should not blind people. Love still has to be calculated and to be considered for its worth and value. Love is important in life, but humans cannot live only with love. Humans do not have to be materialistic, but the essence of love is actually an activity that benefits each other — mutual giving and receiving. It is not one-sided, but two-sided, involving families and communities. Love has rationality.

KOMPAS/IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM

Three victims of fraudsters disguised as love Faris Ahmad Faza (31), namely from left to right Tr (31), Li (25) and Il (28), when reporting together at the Kediri City Police, East Java, Sunday (20/3). /2022).

The state is involved in regulating love relationships between its citizens, such as through Law No. 1/1974 concerning marriage and several other regulations. The goal is to protect citizens from actions that seem to be based on love but do not respect the rights of fellow citizens, such as domestic violence, harassment and fraud. Moreover, the use of love for activities that harm others has actually existed since humans existed.

One of them is the Nigerian Rose/Scam, which is known as an international network that traps women with love out of their money.

The romance fraud in cyberspace is a new phenomenon in society. However, using love to deceive others is nothing new, and it's not just happening in Indonesia. One of them is the Nigerian Rose/Scam, which is known as an international network that traps women with love out of their money.

Fraud under the guise of love is not punishable. Years ago, Ketut Supariasi was sentenced to 15 months in prison for canceling her marriage to Reiner Buchman, who had given her money and a house. Ketut was charged with fraud (Kompas 5/5/1997). There are a number of similar cases. The people who sow love traps can be punished as long as there is evidence and witnesses. The victim must have the courage to speak up.

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)