Wave of fake Gojek and Grab orders flood media offices in Kepri, sparking terror concerns
Two prominent media outlets in Indonesia’s Riau Islands Province were hit by mass fake online transport orders on Sunday, July 27, 2025, in what is being condemned as an act of digital harassment targeting journalists.
Coordinated Ojol Order Hoaxes Disrupt Kepri Media Offices
On the morning of July 27, 2025, two media offices—Batamnews.co.id in Batam and Ulasan Network in Tanjungpinang—were overwhelmed by waves of online motorcycle taxi drivers (ojol) responding to fake orders. At least 100 Gojek and Grab drivers arrived at the Batamnews office starting at 8:00 AM, each expecting to pick up documents for delivery. Less than an hour later, the same pattern hit Ulasan Network, where drivers sought to collect newspapers that did not exist.
The media offices quickly realized they were the targets of an elaborate scheme exploiting the ride-hailing platforms’ vulnerabilities. Drivers showed consistent order names and delivery instructions—pointing to a centralized or automated source of the fake bookings.
Drivers Misled, Platforms Silent
Several drivers expressed frustration and loss. One driver at Ulasan Network, Sandi, noted that the name on the orders—Musdalifah SP Br Simanjutak—appeared repeatedly. Orders instructed drivers to pick up newspapers and deliver them to Gedung Daerah Tanjungpinang, although Ulasan Network is a digital-only media company.
More concerning, the phone numbers tied to the orders were either masked by Gojek/Grab’s system or linked to other unsuspecting drivers. Imam, another driver, said this wasn’t an isolated event:
“I’ve had three fake orders this month—one was to deliver dirty clothes from a hospital.”
The lack of action from Gojek and Grab only deepened frustration. Despite repeated reports, no direct response was received from either platform, according to Zuhri Muhammad, CEO of Batamnews. He asserted:
“This is no prank. This is harassment. And it could be retaliation for our reporting.”
AJI Batam Condemns “Press Terror”
In a strong response, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Batam condemned the incidents as intentional acts of intimidation against the press. Both offices suspect that the attacks were orchestrated and politically motivated.
AJI Batam stated the fake orders could not have happened by accident at two separate locations with nearly identical methods. Muhammad Rakhmat, Head of News at Ulasan Network, agreed, calling the incident “a systematic attack” on media.
The association issued a four-point statement:
- Condemning the attacks as media terror
- Urging police to investigate and prosecute perpetrators
- Encouraging journalists to uphold professional standards
- Reminding parties to use lawful media complaint channels
Pattern Signals Broader Threat
This incident exposes critical flaws in app-based service platforms. The ability to mask identities and generate fake orders in bulk—without effective safeguards—raises alarm not only for media outlets but also for thousands of ojol drivers whose livelihoods are at stake.
Drivers face performance penalties when they cancel fake orders. Moreover, the chaos caused by mass driver arrivals disrupted office operations and risked public order. Putra, a local security guard, reported how drivers were visibly confused and frustrated by the incident.
Call for Accountability
Both media companies are now demanding accountability from Gojek and Grab. They call for tighter identity verification, real-time human support for driver complaints, and stronger detection of suspicious order patterns.
This event is a wake-up call for digital platforms to reassess their role in safeguarding users—not just customers, but also partners like drivers and indirectly affected institutions such as the media.
The mass fake orders directed at Batamnews and Ulasan Network have sparked public concern over the misuse of digital platforms to harass and intimidate. This incident highlights an emerging form of low-cost but disruptive digital terror in Indonesia. As media freedom in Southeast Asia continues to be tested, the event also reflects the vulnerability of journalists—and gig workers—to attacks in the digital age. The onus is now on platform operators and law enforcement to act swiftly and decisively.
Sources: Batam News (2025) , Edisi.co (2025)
Keywords: Batamnews, Ulasan Network, Fake Gojek Orders, Grab Indonesia, Press Intimidation, Digital Terror
