UPNVJ Public Relations – Veteran National Development University Jakarta (UPNVJ) is strengthening its handling of reports of alleged fraud via WhatsApp that impersonates university officials and targets students of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Based on the student complaint letter, a party claiming to be a UPNVJ leader requested assistance in purchasing phone credit, resulting in a loss of Rp300,310. The report is being handled at the university level with a focus on identity verification, communication channel tracing, securing digital evidence, student protection, and strengthening control of official communication channels.
The complaint letter states that the incident began when an unverified WhatsApp number joined two FISIP student communication groups used to coordinate Single Tuition Fee (UKT) payments. The number used the name of Prof. Dr. Ir. Netti Herawati, M.Si., who currently serves as Vice Rector for Planning, Finance, and General Affairs at UPNVJ.
In a WhatsApp conversation, the person asked students for help to top up their phone credit, claiming they were on their way to pay their respects. One of the students then called the number privately, thinking the request was from a university official.
According to transaction evidence presented in the complaint, the student topped up his phone credit twice via GoPay in the early hours of the morning. The first transaction, worth Rp200,205, was made at 2:47 a.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Time), followed by a second transaction of Rp100,105 at 2:51 a.m. WIB. The total amount spent was Rp300,310.
After the transaction was completed, the person using the identity card stated that the funds would be returned in the morning. However, the number was subsequently unreachable. The student subsequently reported the incident and requested direct verification with the UPNVJ official whose name had been used.
In addition to verifying the sender's identity, university-level action is focused on investigating how unverified numbers gained access to student communication groups. Digital evidence in the form of screenshots of conversations, number identification, communication history, and transaction receipts are crucial to the investigation.
This step is necessary to clearly distinguish official university communications from those that use the names, photos, titles, or identities of academics without authorization. Strengthening verification is also crucial because communication via instant messaging apps is a widely used channel for academic and student activities.
UPNVJ encourages administrators of academic, student affairs, UKT (Student Activity Unit) communication groups, and university services to verify the identity of any number granted access to the group. Students and the entire academic community are also asked not to immediately respond to requests for money, phone credit, fund transfers, or personal data based solely on names or profile photos on messaging apps.
Any requests related to financial transactions and on behalf of UPNVJ leaders, lecturers, educational staff, or work units must be verified through the university's official channels or confirmed directly with the relevant party.
This vigilance has previously been emphasized by UPNVJ through the University's Official Statement Regarding the Fraud Mode Using the Name of UPN "Veteran" Jakarta Number 7179/UN61/TU/2025 in November 2025. In the statement, the university reminded students of the modus operandi of perpetrators who use the name of the leadership or official campus parties, directing victims to contact certain numbers, to requesting the transfer of funds for various reasons.
UPNVJ has also reminded its academic community not to conduct transactions with parties whose authenticity cannot be verified. Information related to university services should be confirmed through official channels, especially if there are requests for transfers to personal accounts, the provision of data, or other unusual transactions.
The scheme of requesting phone credit using the identity of a member of the academic community has also been discovered within UPNVJ. In June 2020, the university issued a warning about a fraudulent attempt to purchase phone credit using the name of a UPNVJ Faculty of Social and Political Sciences lecturer. UPNVJ urged students to confirm directly with the party using the name before fulfilling such requests.
The similarity of these patterns demonstrates the importance of continued vigilance against evolving digital fraud schemes. A person's name, profile photo, job title, or presence in a WhatsApp group cannot be the sole basis for determining the identity of a message sender. The contact number, context of the request, communication channel, and purpose of the transaction must be verified before students take action.
In handling the latest reports, the university also prioritizes the protection of students as reporters. Students need a safe space to share their stories and provide evidence without fear, while also receiving information regarding follow-up actions according to established procedures.
Requests regarding financial losses will be reviewed according to university authority, verification results, and applicable regulations without preempting the examination process. In their complaint, the students stated that the missing funds had previously been allocated for final study and graduation expenses.
This strengthening of communications security aligns with UPNVJ's digital transformation. At the launch of the OneUPNVJ ecosystem in July 2026, UPNVJ Rector Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA, Comm., emphasized that digital transformation is not merely about introducing new services or information systems, but is part of a shift in how the university operates and delivers services. This transformation is aimed at building faster, easier, more transparent, secure, and sustainable governance and academic and non-academic services.
With this framework, UPNVJ positions handling alleged identity theft not merely as a single report, but as part of strengthening university governance. Identity verification, information security, digital vigilance, communication channel control, and academic community protection are crucial for building a campus environment that is safe, trustworthy, and adaptable to communication risks in the digital age.*