inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Lampung Regional Police have uncovered a love scam perpetrated by inmates at the Kotabumi Class IIB Detention Center.

"This case was uncovered through a collaborative or joint investigation with the Ministry of Immigration, which uncovered a love scam orchestrated from within the Kotabumi Detention Center," explained Lampung Regional Police Chief Inspector General Helfi Assegaf on Monday (5/11/2026).

He stated that at least 137 inmates at the detention center are suspected of being involved in the love scam, which was carried out by a group.

"We questioned 145 inmates there, and 137 were suspected of involvement in this case," said Helfi.

He stated that based on the investigation, the number of victims identified reached more than 1,200, with 671 victims involved in online sexual exploitation.

"Of that number, 249 victims are known to have transferred money to the perpetrators. The victims came from several regions, including East Java and Lampung, with total losses estimated at IDR 1.4 billion," he explained.

Helfi explained that the perpetrators' modus operandi involved creating social media accounts with fake profiles impersonating members of both the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (INP) to deceive their victims.

"The perpetrators began their criminal activity from January to April. The evidence we secured included 156 mobile phones of various brands, a bank passbook, daily police uniforms, police attributes, detective pins, and clothing used to support the undercover operation," he concluded.

He also emphasized that they will continue to investigate this case and identify those involved.

"Currently, the inmates involved have been transferred from Kotabumi Detention Center to Bandarlampung Detention Center to facilitate further investigation," Helfi.

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