[Unpad.ac.id., 9/11/2012] Bunga (not her real name), a student at the animal husbandry department, was not suspicious about all the text messages and phone calls she received, claiming to be from the rector of Unpad. The messages said that she was to go on a seminar in Bali and requested to wire transfer some amount of money to particular bank accounts.
It all began when Bunga received a text message from 08567005967 on Tuesday (06/11) at 15.26 about a seminar invitation. The texts said, “I am the head of Student Affairs Department, Deni Badaruddin. It is advisable that you call Prof Ganjar Kurnia at 08161923173 to confirm your assigned participation in the National Seminar on Character Building and Student Entrepreneurship organized by DP2M Dikti on November 10-11 in Hotel Nusa Dua Bali. Thank you.”
Feeling obliged to confirm, Bunga sent a text message to the aforementioned number. On the following day, Bunga received a phone call saying that an accommodation allowance in the amount of 5 million rupiahs had already been sent to her bank account. The caller demanded that Bunga go to the nearest ATM to check the money that she had received.
“I thought it was true that Unpad would have sent me the money. So I just went to the ATM without any suspicion,” said she.
When she arrived at the ATM, the caller instructed Bunga to wire transfer some money to an account. “I was dazzled because why should I transfer the money whereas I was actually promised to receive some. The caller said that he would return the money together with the allowance he once promised for the seminar accommodation,” said Bunga, crying.
According to the caller, transferring money is the operational procedure that the committee have agreed on. The caller also notified Bunga’s mother, complimenting her that Bunga was one of the best students to be assigned to take part in the national seminar. Similarly, he demanded that she also send some money via wire transfer. But she soon realized that she was being scammed.
“I soon realized that it was a fraud. I immediately called my daughter. I was very shocked when knowing that she had already sent the money,” said she. Bunga’s parents demanded that the case be investigated and students be warned about the fraudulent texts and scam calls.
It is not the first time that such fraud has taken place. According to Unpad public relation office, similar frauds are directed to students, alumni, and even lecturers. “Everyone should treat such information very carefully. You might as well look for reliable sources such as official twitter accounts or website that Unpad runs,” said Wenny Widyowarti, the head of Unpad PR office.
Futher information can also be obtained at the PR office, Unpad Rectorate Building in Jatinangor or by phone (022) 84288866 or email to humas@unpad.ac.id. *
