2023-05-19 (Jakarta) Indonesians are being swindled out of their life savings by people claiming to be spiritual figures, promising to turn small investments into immense wealth. In Muslim-majority Indonesia, some view shamans as traditional healers, leading to their exploitation by fraudsters. These scams have circulated widely on Indonesian social media, with just two dozen Facebook posts advertising so-called shaman investment schemes viewed more than 1.4 million times. One post claimed a Muslim sheikh would help people multiply their funds, and that the service did not violate the tenets of Islam.
Victims, such as Aslem, a mother-of-three, have lost their hard-earned wages to these tricksters. Aslem was a domestic worker in Dubai when she started wiring cash to a self-professed shaman, believing that he would honour his promise to magically multiply her wages. She returned home last year penniless and in shock, saying she had been swindled out of her life savings by a trickster who now faces trial for his complex scams, and charges of murdering nine of his victims.
In a disconcerting trend, certain alleged scammers in Indonesia are resorting to violent measures when their victims attempt to reclaim their money. These scams have gained widespread traction on Indonesian social media platforms, causing significant concern among authorities and the public alike.
According to an investigation conducted by reporters based in Jakarta, a mere two dozen Facebook posts advertising fraudulent investment schemes, masquerading as shamanic practices, have garnered over 1.4 million views as of this week. This alarming statistic sheds light on the extent to which these schemes have permeated society.
One particularly noteworthy Facebook post, which amassed a staggering 643,000 views from April 8th to May 17th, promoted the services of a purported Muslim sheikh who claimed to possess the ability to multiply individuals’ funds while adhering to the principles of Islam.
Aslem, a resident who currently ekes out a living by selling snacks from her porch, shared her personal encounter with a man she was introduced to by a friend. The man, who went by the name Aki Banyu and claimed to be a Javan shaman, had piqued her interest after she relocated to Dubai in 2016.
During her return trip home in 2019, Aslem met with the man who proceeded to conduct a ritual, offering prayers and promising her substantial financial gains. Convinced by his assurances, Aslem ultimately transferred approximately 288 million rupiah (equivalent to US$19,500) to him. He had assured her that her investment would multiply exponentially, reaching an astronomical sum nearing US$2 million.
Subsequently, law enforcement authorities identified the man as Wowon Erawan, a 60-year-old individual who, they alleged, collaborated with two partners to swindle money from unsuspecting migrant workers. Shockingly, the police also revealed that the trio had confessed to perpetrating homicides by administering drinks laced with pesticides to their victims.
Following Aslem’s inquiries about her investment in late 2022, the scammers concocted a plan to poison her. They arranged a meeting, which Aslem ultimately declined to attend after her friends warned her about the fraudulent nature of Erawan and his associates, according to official police statements.
