Indonesian mobile operator XL Axiata has revealed that police have arrested a group of fraudsters posing as XL Home service officers in Karangpawitan District, Garut Regency.
In a detailed statement last week, XL Axiata said that Garut Resort Police had arrested two suspected perpetrators who posed as XL Home officers: a 29-year-old Cikole Sukabumi resident and a 28-year-old from Baros Sukabumi.
The arrest yielded several pieces of evidence including cash, one gold Yamaha Nmax motorcycle, five STB chargers, three XL Home brand STBs, and six iForte routers.
The police have arrested three other suspects linked to the case, including a 28-year-old, a 23-year-old, and a 22-year-old.
According to Garut Police Chief, AKBP Rohman Yongky Dilatha, the operation took less than 24 hours, and followed a tip-off from XL Axiata partner employees about fraud attempts against customers and illegal retrieval of XL Home service devices.
"My members immediately moved to the ground after reports came in from XL Axiata partner employees who informed that there had been fraudulent actions against several XL Home service customers accompanied by illegal retrieval of devices in the Garut Regency area," said Dilatha.
"What we are doing is certainly a form of our service to the community and business actors throughout the Garut Regency area, as well as emphasizing that there is no room for criminals to carry out their actions in this region."
Police said that the suspects pretended to be XL Home Officers, and showed fake XL Home documentation when asking for Internet service renewal payments.
If payment had not been made, the perpetrators would retrieve the XL Home device and terminate the subscription.
The criminal act, which targeted six homes of XL Home customers, has cost XL Axiata, together with PT Iforte Solusi Infotek and PT Quantum Nusatama as XL Home service providers, around IDR 14 million ($905). Meanwhile, there were no material losses to customers.
The police are still investigating the incident. XL Axiata has warned customers to report any suspected fraud.
