Screenshots of WhatsApp messages impersonating Chief Justice Anwar Usman to scam people on the pretense of donation. Photo by Humas MK.

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Tuesday, December 28, 2021 | 12:40 WIB

JAKARTA, Public Relations—Lately there have been a lot of scams on the app WhatsApp that impersonate public figures without the knowledge and consent of the figures in question. This also happened to Chief Justice Anwar Usman. His name and image was used to lure potential victims under the pretense of donation.

The perpetrator used the popular messaging service to urge recipients to contribute to the development of a foundation for the needy and orphans via a bank account under the name of Fagi Ginanjar, claimed to be the foundation’s treasurer.

People could believe in the scam and motivated to donate upon seeing the chief justice’s image on the profile. Chief Justice Anwar Usman revealed that colleagues, including the other constitutional justices, had contacted him to confirm the message.

“I have never sent any message to invite people to donate for any purpose. It was clearly the action of irresponsible people,” he said.

He would like to urge that anyone who receives such a message on WhatsApp from any number that uses his profile image to urge them to donate for any cause to disregard it. He even urged the recipients to report it to the authorities. The chief justice would also like to caution the perpetrator to stop the action, otherwise they would be reported to the authorities for having impersonated him for personal gains.

Public Relations of the Constitutional Court

Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 12/29/2021 15:35 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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