Hundreds of Yogyakarta Students Allegedly Scammed in Fake TOEFL Test Scheme

Hundreds of students in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, are reportedly victims of a scam that preyed on them during their school orientation week. The scheme involved an external group offering TOEFL test socialization sessions, which allegedly turned into high-pressure sales tactics.

During the sessions, students were reportedly told the TOEFL certificate could guarantee high school graduation and boost career prospects in the police or military. The scammers also invoked the names of the local Education, Youth, and Sports Office (Disdikpora) and the DIY Regional Police to lend credibility to their operation. Initially priced at Rp400,000, the test fee was progressively discounted to Rp100,000, with students given only 15 minutes to pay via cash, transfer, or QRIS.

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Because we were already trusting and panicked by the time pressure, my friends and I immediately paid, some in cash in front of the class, others by transfer or QRIS at the back of the room. We were given a receipt with a 'V' logo and the company name Yogya*******, complete with an address, office number, and email.

Suspicion arose when students discovered the provided office address on their receipts was fake. Further investigation revealed the offered test was not an official TOEFL but a standard online EPT test, with certificates issued as PDF files. The Disdikpora DIY has stated it did not authorize or collaborate with the group, and an investigation is underway.

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After we found out online and on social media, it turned out the office address listed on the receipt was fake. Also, the test they offered wasn't actually TOEFL, but just a regular EPT test done online, which could be paid in installments over several days, and the certificate was only provided as a PDF file (not physical).