inp.polri.go.id - Riau Islands. The Riau Islands Regional Police have uncovered a fraudulent ticket scalping case involving PT Pelni ships that has caused public concern. The case came to light after receiving reports from the public who felt they had been wronged.

"The victim was offered a ship ticket by a man with the initials RS (59). The victim was then contacted by a relative who asked for help finding a ticket for Batam-Belawan. The victim then contacted RS again, who claimed to have the ticket for IDR 450,000," said the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Regional Police, Wednesday (3/18/2026).

The Director of Criminal Investigation of the Riau Islands Regional Police Senior Superintendent Ronni Bonic explained that the perpetrators' method was to exploit the high demand for tickets during the Eid homecoming period due to limited availability. The perpetrators offered ship tickets at prices above the official price, but after payment was made, the tickets were never given to the victim.

"For his actions, the suspect is being charged under Article 494 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP), which concerns fraud with losses of under IDR 1,000,000, which carries a maximum fine of IDR 10,000,000," concluded Senior Superintendent Ronni Bonic.

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