OJK Reacts to Investment Scam that Ensnares IPB Students
Translator
Editor
17 November 2022 17:51 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) revealed the scheme of investment fraud ensnaring students of Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) with a total loss of Rp2.1 billion. The Head of the OJK financial services investigation department, Tongam Lumban Tobing, suspected that it was a fraud case.
“The case that ensnared IPB students and people around the campus is an alleged fraud covered in cooperation in the online sales business at the perpetrator's online shop. And [the perpetrator] offered a 10-percent commission per transaction,” said Tongam to Tempo on Thursday, November 17, 2022.
Tongam explained that the perpetrator asked students to buy goods at their online store. If the students didn't have money, they were asked to apply for online loans. The loan money was then channeled to the perpetrator’s account but the items purchased were not delivered.
“The perpetrator promised to pay the debt installments with the commission money so that students were interested in investing,” he said.
Not about an online loan problem
The perpetrator did not fulfill the promise to repay the debt of online loans, Tongam went on. So debt collectors came and asked students as borrowers to pay back the loans.
“This case is not a loan problem, but fraud under the guise of an online store. [The victims] purchased goods which turned out to be fictitious, but the money streamed to the perpetrator,” he said.
The OJK’s Investment Alert Task Force is pushing for legal processes against the perpetrator. “OJK has also coordinated with the Bogor Police and the Rectorate of IPB for handling this case,” Tongam said.
OJK’s Suggestions
Learning from this case, Tongam emphasized that OJK will continue to educate the public about illegal investments to prevent the recurrence of such cases and assist IPB students.
“The public is asked to be wary of offers of investment that are not legal and with illogical returns,” said Tongam.
Meanwhile, IPB University Rector Arif Satria said his side has made coordination with the police and would continue to assist students in solving this online loan and investment fraud issue, including legal assistance.
MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
