Scammers will Scam

[fastpitch17]

There is just no stopping these people.

Ukrainian Tourists Allegedly Tricked By Authorities To Extend Quarantine Time

Two international tourists were allegedly tricked by authorities to extend their quarantine in Jakarta before going on vacation in Bali.

thebalisun.com

 

[snpark]

Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno helps tourists overcome alleged false PCR test positives from Jakarta hotel | Coconuts

The Indonesian government is keen to uphold the reputation of the country’s ailing tourism industry, with a minister paying special attention to a case involving alleged manipulation of PCR test results for tourists in hotel quarantine.

coconuts.co

 

[Bob]

Can Ukrainians now even visit Indonesia for tourism?

 

[centurion]

Spreading outright lies and disinformation....

 

[centurion]

continued

 

[Ruserious]

There was another guy recently who complained online about the isolation hotel quality. He managed to get a test done from an outside test center and his result was something like 34, still positive but very marginally. It is possible that the Ukrainians had the same and by the time they retested they were above the limit and therefore negative. There is also some confusion if 35 or 40 is the benchmark for negative.

 

[fastpitch17]

There is also an American filing a complaint. He was told he tested positive the last day. Had to move to a different hotel because if it at almost twice the cost as where he was before and rooms and required services were not so good.

The government is saying they are going to investigate, arrest, and punish who they find looking at this as sone sort of Quantine mafia. Seems a number of migrant workers were scammed out of cash and a number of foreigners who were under the treat of deportation if they didn't comply to the payment requested. Ad these problems to the ones who paid off staff to avoid isolation, the gov thinks it is wide spread and needs to stop.

The hotels who receive the cash for people in their rooms are immediately saying, don't look at us, we supply what the government requires. Meals and 2 test. I am guessing the government may be requiring more than that.

 

[gemima]

There is also an American filing a complaint. He was told he tested positive the last day. Had to move to a different hotel because if it at almost twice the cost as where he was before and rooms and required services were not so good.

The government is saying they are going to investigate, arrest, and punish who they find looking at this as sone sort of Quantine mafia. Seems a number of migrant workers were scammed out of cash and a number of foreigners who were under the treat of deportation if they didn't comply to the payment requested. Ad these problems to the ones who paid off staff to avoid isolation, the gov thinks it is wide spread and needs to stop.

The hotels who receive the cash for people in their rooms are immediately saying, don't look at us, we supply what the government requires. Meals and 2 test. I am guessing the government may be requiring more than that.

I finished my hotel quarantine in early Jan and the hotel had nothing to do with the testing. On arrival it was done at the airport and at the hotel it was managed by someone from the army (there was no hotel staff even present for my final test).

I'm not denying that this happens of course - I'm just pretty sure in my case the hotel would not have been able to scam me (it would have had to be the army/ testing lab people if there was a scam happening).

I have heard that some people I know paid to avoid hotel quarantine (they did it themselves at home; they haven't admitted it to me - but I heard from a common friend) so I do think plenty of rich Indonesians are managing to skip the process altogether.

 

[fastpitch17]

I finished my hotel quarantine in early Jan and the hotel had nothing to do with the testing. On arrival it was done at the airport and at the hotel it was managed by someone from the army (there was no hotel staff even present for my final test).

I'm not denying that this happens of course - I'm just pretty sure in my case the hotel would not have been able to scam me (it would have had to be the army/ testing lab people if there was a scam happening).

I have heard that some people I know paid to avoid hotel quarantine (they did it themselves at home; they haven't admitted it to me - but I heard from a common friend) so I do think plenty of rich Indonesians are managing to skip the process altogether.

The benefited hotels are the ones the new positives have to move to and pay higher prices than they were for the quarantine hotels. Quarantine hotels only are required to provide the room, meals, and somewhat room maintenance. While the TNI may be conducting test, when someone becomes positive and is refused another test to verify and then moved, someone is making money be it a TNI member or the place who gets paid when they move in because they are possitive. As with everything, my guess is that someone up the chain is bringing in extra cash for themselves.

 

[nardo]

How much is the go home option..? Do you still have to pay for the hotel..?

 

[gemima]

How much is the go home option..? Do you still have to pay for the hotel..?

I don't know anything but vague details - apparently, they paid more than they would have to be at a hotel (and they would have been at one of the more expensive ones).

 

[R Cameron]

@gemima were those incidents before this year, before Jokowi said this? https://www.kompas.tv/article/24782...-karantina-bagi-pelaku-perjalanan-luar-negeri

@nardo "go home option" is illegal, don't do it. Only exceptions to hotel/wisma quarantine are for certain high government officials.

 

[Ruserious]

How much is the go home option..? Do you still have to pay for the hotel..?

Yes of course you do. It is Expensive, not legal and if you are caught and put on the news then you will likely be banned from Indonesia for a while. Unless you are a well connected and can get yourself out of trouble with contacts and (a lot of) money then you should not do this.

 

[gemima]

@gemima were those incidents before this year, before Jokowi said this? https://www.kompas.tv/article/24782...-karantina-bagi-pelaku-perjalanan-luar-negeri

@nardo "go home option" is illegal, don't do it. Only exceptions to hotel/wisma quarantine are for certain high government officials.

The incident I have heard about was after this - mid Jan
They are not government officials and it was not an official exception - completely illegal.

 

[centurion]

The benefited hotels are the ones the new positives have to move to and pay higher prices than they were for the quarantine hotels. Quarantine hotels only are required to provide the room, meals, and somewhat room maintenance. While the TNI may be conducting test, when someone becomes positive and is refused another test to verify and then moved, someone is making money be it a TNI member or the place who gets paid when they move in because they are possitive. As with everything, my guess is that someone up the chain is bringing in extra cash for themselves.

Actually, the tests are done by private labs. The test on the airport for me was done by one lab and out of the hotel by another lab. Can be seen on the letterhead of the result.

There is probably confusion what is threshold CT value for the negative result. US/Europe is 30-35, while in Indonesia is sometimes 35 and sometimes 40, so it happens that you are negative on airport and positive at the end of the hotel. Also, tests being done by private labs, make it possible for shady deals between hotels and labs.

 

[R Cameron]

Also, tests being done by private labs, make it possible for shady deals between hotels and labs.

Exactly, which is why if you are positive you have the right to test again, and those re-tests will be done only by a few selected labs which we are to assume have stricter government oversight, Protokol 3.n.: https://covid19.go.id/artikel/2022/02/02/surat-edaran-kasatgas-nomor-4-tahun-2022

 

[centurion]

Exactly, which is why if you are positive you have the right to test again, and those re-tests will be done only by a few selected labs which we are to assume have stricter government oversight, Protokol 3.n.: https://covid19.go.id/artikel/2022/02/02/surat-edaran-kasatgas-nomor-4-tahun-2022

Until this regulation, there was no right to test again, at least you had to wait a minimum of 5-7 days for a retest.

 

[R Cameron]

Until this regulation, there was no right to test again, at least you had to wait a minimum of 5-7 days for a retest.

That clause has been in Surat Edarans for at least months. For instance in Protokol 3.n. from late November: https://covid19.go.id/artikel/2021/11/28/surat-edaran-kasatgas-nomor-23-tahun-2021

The right has been there. I can't comment on how expediently or efficiently it has been handled, past or present.

 

[centurion]

That clause has been in Surat Edarans for at least months. For instance in Protokol 3.n. from late November: https://covid19.go.id/artikel/2021/11/28/surat-edaran-kasatgas-nomor-23-tahun-2021

The right has been there. I can't comment on how expediently or efficiently it has been handled, past or present.

You had to wait 5 to 7 days.

 

[nardo]

Well the bonus is for me that I arrived on the 1st and the retrospective ruling will enable me to leave on the 5th.. Inshallah.