The Indonesian State-operated Medicare Program (BPJS Kesehatan) provides a critical source of health insurance coverage for millions of Indonesians and foreign residents in Indonesia.
Unfortunately, the peace of mind that comes from knowing that insurance coverage is in place and available to pay for outpatient and surgical medical care is being undermined by irresponsible, criminal elements.
In a scam intended to prey on the public, Indonesian and foreign residents are often being panicked by a large ring of sophisticated criminals who are persuading members of the public to surrender millions of their hard-earned rupiahs by responding to telephone threats that they are in imminent danger of losing their BPJS Health Coverage.
Here’s how this particular scam unfolds:
- Using “auto-dial technology” and recordings of professional-speaking voices communicating in Indonesian, members of the public are advised that their BPJS Health Coverage is being officially terminated. The automated call, presumably from BPJS Health, directs the answering party to dial “O” for further information and assistance.
- After dialing “O,” a well-practiced “operator,” identifying him or herself as a BPJS Health Insurance Official, takes over the call, presenting a complicated and largely incomprehensible explanation detailing why a person’s BPJS Coverage is being terminated. One of the reasons being employed is that the subject’s BPJS Health Account has been used to order illegal prescription drugs.
- At this stage, panicked and concerned at the loss of insurance coverage, the target of the scam is then offered assistance by the “BPJS Operator,” who offers to connect you with the police, who may be able to assist.
- Next, a person posing as a police officer comes on the line, requesting sensitive and confidential information, including the address, BPJS Health Card Number, and bank details, to permit the police to trace suspicious banking transactions involving the alleged illegal prescription transactions.
- At some point, the officious-sounding policeman will ask the BPJS Health Card Holder to transfer money to a separate “safe police account” to pay for the official investigation.
The entire process above is performed with well-practiced skill, and gullible members of the public often send substantial sums of money to the trickster’s bogus account.
Police are recommending that the public be on the alert for suspicious calls claiming to be from BPJS Health. These calls often disarm the recipient by using sophisticated technology to persuade the recipient that the call must be genuine.
Police officials also warn that BPJS Health Officials and members of the police force will never request sensitive or confidential information over the phone. Police recommend whenever such requests are received, simply end the phone exchange and report to the nearest police office. Finally, the public should refrain from being influenced by illogical phone threats or promises made by people representing themselves as acting in an official capacity.
Meanwhile, members of the public receiving numerous calls using the BPJS Health modus operandi are urging the police to set up “a sting operation” to track down the callers, make the necessary arrests, and process the fraudster perpetrators to the maximum extent of the law.
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