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185:, where they were accused to have kidnapped a child by a woman who later reported them to her relatives and the head of her village. The head of the village made several announcements warning residents about the presence of a child kidnapper in the area through WhatsApp, which devolved into vigilante action against the traders.
63:
The rumours started in early
January 2023 in various locations such as Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and Papua. Most of these rumours appeared to be used against perceived outsider or migrant communities around them, while some blamed the mentally-ill. Officials argued this was due to low digital literacy
154:
On 24 January, a woman in Sorong was accused of kidnapping a child. The police wanted to question her and escorted her to a police office, but were confronted by an angry mob who burned her to death during a riot. Rumours were spread through WhatsApp chain messages about a supposed child kidnapping
124:
early
January 2023, a rumour spread across communities that four elementary students were almost duped and kidnapped. This resulted in mayor of the city asking for investigation behind the rumour. However, until 11 January, there were no confirmation regarding the case. Later, head of police of the
221:
complained about the widespread rumour of child kidnapping around the city to the regional police chief, which was assured by the police as "only rumours". The police also clarified in 1 February 2023, there was no report of child kidnapping case in the city since early 2022.
132:. On 31 January, regional police of the province said that the rumour was fake and will investigate the source of said rumour. Screenshots of a conversation about a supposed child abduction with photo of the child's corpse were spread on
212:
with messages warning about child kidnapping together with several photos of supposed-preparators. The information within the pamphlets were unverified and later removed by police on 2 February. Traders in a market in
64:
within
Indonesians, while experts added that this is due to low trust in the state instruments. The rumours multiplied fast through social media and caused mob rules and vigilante actions across the country.
166:, a man with mental illness who was giving out candy to children was accused of being a kidnapper by the children, and later beaten by angry mobs. A similar rumour was spread in
159:, coupled with a viral video of a supposedly kidnapped student from Jl. Ampera. This later was clarified to be false after authorities verified it to schools around the area.
67:
Most of the rumours were dismissed as fake and "scaremongering" by officials. Despite this, there are several viral kidnapping cases reported since
December 2022 according to
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which, according to authorities, were mostly fake. The rumours resulted in injuries and fatalities in some places, with the most severe cases resulting in a
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229:, triggered a deadly riot resulting in 10 rioters dead, mostly killed by police; and two traders accused of kidnapping were also killed.
741:
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817:
843:"Kerusuhan di Wamena dipicu isu penculikan anak: 10 korban meninggal, tujuh tewas karena tembakan - Amnesty desak investigasi"
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using an old video of police chasing a motorcycle thief. Similar rumour was also dismissed by local police as "false" in
536:
97:
27:
triggered a series of mass hysteria and vigilante actions across the country. The rumours were mostly spread through
128:
In late
January 2023, a voice recording that talked about an attempt of child kidnapping spread across WhatsApp in
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238:
182:
125:
city, Meity
Jacobus, clarified that the kidnapping never took place and the story was made up by the children.
48:
484:
188:
In early
February, a man was arrested by police for sharing false rumours about a child abduction in
218:
151:, escaped an attack after being falsely accused of kidnapping a child in a small neighbourhood.
613:"Kronologi Perempuan di Sorong Dibakar Hidup-hidup hingga Tewas, Bermula Dituduh Menculik Anak"
295:"Beredar Kabar Penculikan Anak Terjadi Dimana-mana, Ini Kata Mabes Polri - Suara Merdeka Solo"
170:, a school student claimed she was almost kidnapped in a video, but this was later disproven.
144:
299:
Beredar Kabar
Penculikan Anak Terjadi Dimana-mana, Ini Kata Mabes Polri - Suara Merdeka Solo
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51:, five men were injured after being beaten by a mob who accused them of kidnapping; and in
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140:. The screenshots were later dismissed as hoax by the local Director of Cyber Crime.
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690:"Bikin Resah Masyarakat, Penyebar Video Hoaks Penculikan Anak di Minahasa Ditangkap"
178:
563:"Viral Foto Anak Korban Penculikan Diambil Organnya di Depok, Bareskrim: Hoaks!"
588:"Dicurigai Pelaku Penculikan Anak, Seorang Wanita di Tangerang Nyaris Dipukuli"
768:"Kapolda NTT Dicurhati Pedagang Pasar, Resah Marak Penculikan Anak di Kupang"
267:"Burned alive or beaten: mob rule in Indonesia over child abduction rumours"
205:
156:
129:
24:
377:"Ramai-ramai Isu Penculikan di Jatim Bikin Warga Resah, ODGJ Sampai Bonyok"
320:
346:"Cek Fakta Sepekan: Hoaks Penculikan Anak hingga "Reshuffle" Halaman all"
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52:
32:
28:
321:"Maraknya Kabar Penculikan Anak Bikin Cemas, Orang Tua Harus Bagaimana?"
459:"Marak Isu Penculikan Anak, Edi Kamtono Minta Warga Tak Sebarkan Hoaks"
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55:, where a mentally ill person was also beaten to death by a mob.
792:"Polda NTT Tegaskan Tak Ada Kasus Penculikan Anak di Wilayahnya"
511:"Waspada Hoaks Penculik Anak, Korbannya Dipukuli hingga Dibakar"
193:
716:"Isu Penculikan Anak di Palu Hoaks, Masyarakat Tak Perlu Cemas"
664:"5 Warga Garut di Sumsel Dianiaya gegara Disebut Penculik Anak"
639:"Isu Penculikan Anak di Pontianak Ternyata Hanya Berita Bohong"
537:"Daftar Kasus Penculikan Anak di Indonesia Selama Januari 2023"
402:"5 Warga Garut di Sumsel Dianiaya gegara Disebut Penculik Anak"
84:
742:"TNI-Polri Copot Hoax Selebaran Penculikan Anak di Samarinda"
225:
On 23 February 2023, a rumour of child kidnapping in Wamena,
561:
Chaterine, Rahel Narda (2023-01-28). Prabowo, Dani (ed.).
47:, where a woman was burned alive. In other places such as
433:"Daftar Hoaks Penculikan Anak Hingga Awal Februari 2023"
535:
Sulthoni (27 January 2023). Haryanto, Alexander (ed.).
485:"Imbauan Polisi di Tengah Maraknya Isu Penculikan Anak"
101:
818:"Sudah Terkendali, Polri: Kondisi di Wamena Kondusif"
173:
On 7 February, five traders who were travelling from
457:
Mariana, Dina; Salsabilla, Lydia (3 February 2023).
69:Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection
8:
319:Dwinanda, Reiny; Sopia, Santi (2023-01-30).
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714:Bustan, Muhammad Taufan (6 Feb 2023).
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816:Wijaya, Stefani (24 February 2023).
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740:Abdullah, Fuad Iqbal (2 Feb 2023).
43:which killed twelve people; and in
483:Briantika, Adi (3 February 2023).
14:
643:wartapontianak.pikiran-rakyat.com
431:Nancy, Yonada (5 February 2023).
19:In early 2023, rumours regarding
874:January 2023 events in Indonesia
293:Susilo, Heru, ed. (2023-01-31).
265:Nugroho, Johannes (2023-02-12).
88:
16:Child safety scare in Indonesia
766:Petrus, Ananias (2023-02-03).
1:
688:Karouw, Donald (2023-02-02).
204:were found scattered around
849:(in Indonesian). 2023-02-24
798:(in Indonesian). 2023-02-01
619:(in Indonesian). 2023-01-24
509:Salam, Handi (2023-02-28).
352:(in Indonesian). 2023-02-06
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143:On 23 January, a woman in
136:through chain messages in
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884:Kidnappings in Indonesia
271:South China Morning Post
239:1998 Banyuwangi massacre
183:North Musi Rawas Regency
49:North Musi Rawas Regency
162:On 3 February 2023, in
375:Nadhiroh, Fatichatun.
102:adding missing items
847:BBC News Indonesia
720:mediaindonesia.com
219:East Nusa Tenggara
100:; you can help by
145:Tangerang Regency
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772:merdeka.com
181:stopped on
868:Categories
853:2023-03-01
828:2023-03-01
802:2023-03-01
777:2023-03-01
752:2023-03-01
726:2023-03-01
700:2023-03-01
674:2023-03-01
668:detikjabar
649:2023-03-01
637:Yuniardi.
623:2023-03-01
617:KOMPAS.com
598:2023-03-01
573:2023-03-01
567:KOMPAS.com
547:2023-03-01
521:2023-03-01
495:2023-03-01
469:2023-03-01
443:2023-03-01
412:2023-03-01
406:detikjabar
387:2023-03-01
381:detikjatim
356:2023-03-01
350:KOMPAS.com
331:2023-03-01
305:2023-03-01
276:2023-03-01
245:References
200:. Several
109:March 2023
98:incomplete
79:See also:
59:Background
796:medcom.id
206:Samarinda
202:pamphlets
157:Pontianak
130:East Java
25:Indonesia
694:iNews.ID
541:tirto.id
489:tirto.id
463:kumparan
437:tirto.id
233:See also
164:Surabaya
155:case in
134:WhatsApp
75:Timeline
53:Surabaya
33:Facebook
29:WhatsApp
168:Sampang
23:across
879:Scares
215:Kupang
149:Banten
45:Sorong
37:TikTok
35:, and
175:Jambi
138:Depok
194:Palu
177:to
120:In
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