The number of murder cases related to money-multiplying scams continues to grow. The perpetrators can easily deceive their victims because of the generally low financial literacy among the public.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO
Slamet Tohari (center) was brought by the Banjarnegara Police to the cassava garden where the 12 victims he killed were buried in Balun Village, Wanayasa, Banjarnegara, Central Java, Tuesday (4/4/2023).
The Banjarnegara Police of Central Java uncovered a serial murder committed by a man who claimed he could multiply money by using magic. The perpetrator killed his victims because he was annoyed that they asked repeatedly for their money, the amount multiplied as he had promised. The man is suspected of killing 10 clients.
Banjarnegara Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hendri Yulianto said on Monday (3/4/2023) that the murders were allegedly committed by a 45-year-old man with the initials TH, alias Mbah Slamet, who lived in Wanayasa district, Banjarnegara (Kompas, 4/4/2023).
The number of victims of money-multiplying scams continues to grow due to people’s low financial literacy. The victims do whatever the perpetrator asked them to do because of the perpetrator’s promise that he could multiply their money. In previous cases in Cianjur and Bekasi, Wowon Erawan, Solihin and M. Dede Solehudin used the same method of claiming that they could multiply money and killed nine people.
Their victims believed that they could double money as they had promised. The beliefs and mystique in society about the abilities of orang pintar (shamans) make it easy for people to fall into the hands of these perpetrators. Moreover, the perpetrators use certain methods to demonstrate that they have the magical power to multiply money.
WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO
Members of the Banjarnegara Resort Police along with volunteers dug and evacuated at least 10 body bags of suspected murder victims from the location of a cassava and cabbage plantation in Balun Village, Wanayasa District, Banjarnegara, Central Java, Monday (3/4/2023) .
Some people believe those who claim to be able to multiply money more than financial institutions. The 2022 National Survey on Financial Literacy and Inclusion (SNLIK) shows a financial literacy index of 49.68 percent, an increase from 38.03 percent in the 2019 survey. Although it has improved, the figure is still relatively low.
The effort to improve financial literacy needs to be accompanied by digital literacy.
Improving financial literacy among the public is the responsibility of all parties, particularly financial institutions and authorities. Considering the scope of financial literacy, namely understanding the features, benefits, and risks, as well as the rights and obligations related to financial products and services, the effort to promote public understanding still needs further improvement. In addition, financial literacy also involves proper skills, attitudes, and behavior in using financial products and services. Looking at various cases, financial institutions and authorities are still far behind in terms of the perpetrators’ abilities in offering their services.
The effort to improve financial literacy needs to be accompanied by digital literacy. The perpetrators of money-multiplying scams generally use social media to offer their services. They are skilled in attracting their victims through a promise they make on social media. This channel can very easily reach various levels of society.
This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.
