EduAsiaNews, Jakarta — Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) is strengthening its response to a reported WhatsApp scam involving the alleged misuse of a university official’s identity and targeting students of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).
The case was reported on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. According to a student complaint, an individual posing as a UPNVJ official asked a student to purchase mobile phone credit, resulting in a financial loss of Rp300,310. The university is handling the report at the institutional level, focusing on identity verification, tracing communication channels, securing digital evidence, protecting students, and strengthening controls over official communication channels.
According to the complaint, the incident began when an unverified WhatsApp number joined two FISIP student communication groups used to coordinate matters related to tuition payments, or Uang Kuliah Tunggal (UKT). The number used the name of Prof. Dr. Ir. Netti Herawati, M.Si., UPNVJ Vice Rector for Planning, Finance and General Affairs.
Through WhatsApp, the individual asked students to help purchase mobile phone credit, claiming to be on the way to attend a funeral. One student subsequently contacted the number privately, believing the request had come from the university official.
Transaction records submitted with the complaint showed that the student made two mobile credit purchases through GoPay in the early hours of the morning. The first transaction, worth Rp200,205, was made at 2:47 a.m. local time, followed by a second transaction of Rp100,105 at 2:51 a.m. The total amount paid was Rp300,310.
After the transactions were completed, the individual using the official’s identity said the money would be reimbursed that morning. However, the number subsequently became unreachable. The student then reported the incident and requested direct verification from the UPNVJ official whose identity had allegedly been misused.
In addition to verifying the authenticity of the sender’s identity, the university-level response is examining how an unverified number was able to gain access to student communication groups. Digital evidence, including screenshots of conversations, the telephone number, communication history, and transaction records, is being treated as important material in the review.
The measures are intended to clearly distinguish official university communications from messages sent by individuals who use the name, photograph, position, or identity of members of the academic community without authorization. Stronger verification is particularly important as instant messaging applications have become widely used channels for academic and student-related activities.
UPNVJ is urging administrators of academic, student, UKT, and other university-related communication groups to verify the identity of every number granted access to their groups. Students and members of the academic community are also advised not to immediately comply with requests for money, mobile phone credit, fund transfers, or personal information based solely on a name or profile photograph displayed on a messaging application.
Any request involving financial transactions and claiming to come from UPNVJ leaders, lecturers, administrative staff, or university units should first be verified through official university channels or directly confirmed with the person concerned.
UPNVJ previously issued a similar warning through its Official University Statement Regarding Fraudulent Schemes Using the Name of UPN “Veteran” Jakarta, Number 7179/UN61/TU/2025, in November 2025. The statement warned students about schemes in which perpetrators impersonated university leaders or other official representatives, directed victims to contact specific numbers, and requested money transfers under various pretexts.
The university has also urged members of its academic community not to conduct transactions with parties whose identities cannot be verified. Information concerning university services should be confirmed through official channels, particularly when a request involves transfers to personal bank accounts, the disclosure of personal information, or other unusual transactions.
A similar mobile-credit scam involving the misuse of an academic’s identity was also reported at UPNVJ in June 2020. At the time, the university issued a warning concerning an individual impersonating a FISIP lecturer and requesting students to purchase mobile phone credit. Students were advised to directly confirm such requests with the person whose identity was being used before taking any action.
The similarity between the cases highlights the importance of maintaining vigilance against evolving forms of digital fraud. A name, profile photograph, job title, or presence in a WhatsApp group should not be considered sufficient proof of a sender’s identity. Contact numbers, the context of the request, the communication channel, and the intended transaction should all be verified before students take action.
In handling the latest report, the university is also paying particular attention to protecting the student who submitted the complaint. Students need a safe environment in which to report incidents and provide evidence without fear, while also receiving information about follow-up measures in accordance with applicable procedures.
Any request concerning financial losses will be reviewed according to the university’s authority, the results of the verification process, and applicable regulations, without prejudging the outcome of the examination. In the complaint, the student stated that the lost funds had previously been allocated for final-study and graduation-related expenses.
The strengthening of communication security is also aligned with UPNVJ’s digital transformation agenda. During the launch of the OneUPNVJ integrated digital ecosystem in July 2026, UPNVJ Rector Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, M.A., Comm. emphasized that digital transformation is not merely about introducing new services or information systems, but also about changing how the university operates and delivers services. The transformation is intended to establish faster, easier, more transparent, secure, and sustainable academic and non-academic governance and services.
Within this framework, UPNVJ views the handling of suspected identity misuse not merely as a response to an individual complaint, but as part of a broader effort to strengthen university governance. Identity verification, information security, digital vigilance, communication-channel controls, and protection of members of the academic community are essential to building a campus environment that is safe, trustworthy, and adaptive to the risks of communication in the digital era.(www.upnvj.ac.id)
