The Deputy Minister of Hajj issued a stern warning regarding the rise of Hajj and Umrah travel scam cases that harm the public. The statement was made during the Al Jam'iyatul Washliyah event at the Jakarta Hajj Dormitory on Wednesday (8/7/2026), in response to a large-scale fraud case involving thousands of victims through social media promotions.
The government is currently coordinating intensively with the Indonesian National Police to crack down on cybercriminals targeting prospective pilgrims. The phenomenon of fraud involving the younger generation as perpetrators is seen as a warning alarm that demands a thorough overhaul of pilgrimage management.
On that occasion, he emphasized that religion should no longer be used as a commodity by certain groups for personal gain. He firmly reminded that the Hajj Pilgrimage Guidance Groups (KBIH) must restore their function as pilgrimage support institutions, rather than being business-oriented to the detriment of the congregation.
While highlighting the increasingly rampant bad practices, the government is not generalizing all guidance institutions. Many KBIH in various regions, such as West Java, Central Java, East Java, Aceh, and North Sumatra, are considered to still perform their duties professionally and prioritize services to pilgrims.
Moving forward, the government is committed to strengthening the supervision system for pilgrimage travel organizers. It is hoped that, through the support of various Islamic organizations, the public can be better protected from fraudulent schemes and public trust in KBIH with integrity can be maintained.
