JAMBI | INDATANEWS.COM - The alleged circulation of counterfeit money has once again raised concerns among business owners in Jambi City. A grocery store owner and private employee, Dalil Harahap (40), filed a report on Monday, July 20, 2026, with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Jambi City Police over allegations of counterfeit money distribution.
Dalil, who runs a small grocery store in Jambi, said he had repeatedly received banknotes suspected to be counterfeit from customers. From 2025 until July 2026, the total value of the suspected counterfeit money he discovered in several incidents reached Rp1.15 million.
The findings have caused serious concern for Dalil, as suspicions are growing that the circulation of counterfeit money is increasingly affecting small traders who conduct daily cash transactions with customers.
The report was received by officers from the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Jambi City Police and documented through a Receipt of Complaint Evidence (Surat Tanda Bukti Penerimaan Pengaduan/STBPP). Through the report, Dalil hopes police can investigate the alleged counterfeit money circulation that has increasingly burdened traders in the Jambi area.
PHYSICAL FORM OF SUSPECTED COUNTERFEIT MONEY: Dalil Harahap shows the suspected counterfeit banknotes after using a detection device that identified differences compared with genuine currency. (PHOTO: Dalil Harahap)
Grocery Store Owner Keeps Suspected Counterfeit Banknotes as Evidence
Dalil said he has been keeping the suspicious banknotes on the cashier's counter at his store. He did so to help employees and family members who manage the shop identify suspicious money more easily if customers attempt to use similar banknotes again.
"I keep the money on the cashier's counter so it is clear which money is suspected to be fake and which is genuine. This helps employees or my younger siblings who manage the store distinguish them if someone tries to use counterfeit money," Dalil said.
He explained that initially he only received individual suspicious banknotes with denominations of Rp50,000 and Rp100,000. However, he later discovered several suspected counterfeit notes at once, prompting him to take legal action.
The latest incident occurred on July 15, 2026, in the Pasir Putih area, Jambi Selatan District, Jambi City. At that time, his younger brother allegedly received suspected counterfeit banknotes worth Rp400,000 from a customer.
"This time, a police report had to be filed," Dalil said.
Nighttime Dana Top-Up Transactions Allegedly Used as a Method
Dalil explained that one of the alleged methods used by perpetrators involved topping up the digital payment service Dana at night. The perpetrators were suspected of taking advantage of quieter conditions at the store, making it difficult for employees to carefully check the received banknotes.
One of the incidents that became the basis of his report occurred in February 2026 at around 3:00 a.m. WIB at his store in Bagan Pete Subdistrict, Alam Barajo District, Jambi City.
At that time, an unidentified man came to the store to conduct a Dana top-up transaction worth Rp100,000. After the transaction was completed and the man left the location, Dalil became suspicious of the banknote he had received.
He then checked the banknote using a money detection device. The examination revealed several differences compared with genuine currency, including missing light-sensitive features, absent security elements, and different paper texture.
"After checking it with the device, it was suspected to be counterfeit because the characteristics did not match genuine money," Dalil stated in his complaint.
Dalil suspects the perpetrator did not act alone. According to him, the man wore a black helmet and a yellow jacket bearing the Maxim logo. The suspect allegedly arrived on a motorcycle, while another person waited outside the store.
"The perpetrator's method was to deceive store supervision through Dana top-up transactions at night, around 10:30 p.m. He took advantage of the situation. The person was suspected of wearing a black helmet and a yellow jacket with the Maxim logo. He arrived on a motorcycle with another person who waited outside," Dalil said.
CALLS FOR POLICE INVESTIGATION:
Dalil Harahap urges police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the suspected counterfeit money circulation in Jambi. (PHOTO:
Dalil Harahap)
Family Members Also Reportedly Affected
Dalil said he was not the only person affected by the incident. After informing his family about the case, he learned that several relatives who also operate small businesses had allegedly received counterfeit banknotes.
Other affected individuals included Irpan Tambunan, who suffered a loss of Rp100,000; Rosmin Tambunan, Rp100,000; Hasian Tambunan, Rp50,000; and Ratna Tambunan, who suffered the largest loss at Rp400,000.
With these additional findings, Dalil stated that the total value of suspected counterfeit money received by him and his family between 2025 and July 2026 reached Rp1.15 million.
According to Dalil, the situation indicates that the alleged circulation of counterfeit money has become increasingly concerning, particularly threatening small traders who conduct cash transactions every day.
He hopes his report can assist police in uncovering the perpetrators and preventing more victims from falling prey to counterfeit money circulation.
"With this report, I hope counterfeit money criminals will no longer have the courage to commit such acts in the future. As citizens, we support the government, the police, and especially Bank Indonesia. We also want to prevent more people from becoming victims," Dalil said.
As of the publication of this report, the investigation into the alleged counterfeit money circulation remains under review by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Jambi City Police. Police will conduct further investigations to verify the authenticity of the evidence and identify individuals allegedly involved in distributing counterfeit money.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Editorial Team | EDITOR: Fik Sagala