TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of Facebook accounts are circulating a video of Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa distributing grant funds for July 2026. The grant funds amount to Rp250 million, which will be disbursed in just one day.
Tempo's Fact-Checking Team identified four variants of the video depicting Purbaya announcing the grant funds: Content 1, Content 2, Content 3, and Content 4. Netizens interested in receiving assistance can simply register via the listed WhatsApp number or use the comments section. "Register today, disbursement today," Purbaya says in the video.
Is it true that Finance Minister Purbaya is opening registration for the July 2026 grant funds?
FACT CHECK
Tempo verified the content by checking the listed WhatsApp numbers one by one, using a reverse image search tool, a fake-fake detection tool, and interviewing digital security experts. The results showed that the circulating videos had been manipulated using fake-fake software to deceive netizens.
Not a Ministry of Finance WhatsApp Number
Tempo pretended to be interested in participating in the grant program by contacting the WhatsApp number listed in one of the posts. The administrator managing the number actually offered financial assistance from Saudi Arabia. The condition was that 30 percent of the funds would be deducted for the construction and operation of places of worship. The administrator also asked Tempo to submit a photo of their ID card, a savings account, and other personal information.
However, when Tempo checked the official Instagram account of the Ministry of Finance's Information and Documentation Management Officer (PPID Kemenkeu), it confirmed that Purbaya's content announcing aid from Saudi Arabia was a scam.
"The public is advised to be wary of the spread of videos and fake news purporting to be from Minister of Finance Purbaya," the statement on July 9, 2026, read.
Tempo then matched the WhatsApp numbers on social media with the Ministry of Finance's official services. On the ministry's website, WhatsApp contacts belonged to only two directorates and one agency, with numbers different from those on social media.
These three are the Directorate General of Budget (0811-1646-116), the Directorate General of Economic and Fiscal Strategy (081310004134), and the Financial Technology, Information, and Intelligence Agency (081310004134).
Video verification
Video 1
This video was taken from a Tribunnews report about the State Budget (APBN) Press Conference at the Ministry of Finance Office in Jakarta in early June 2026. Purbaya presented a state financial report, not an offer of aid.
While similar, the manipulated video shows oddities in the visual appearance of the walls, lighting, and monitor screens behind Purbaya and the Ministry of Finance officials.
According to the artificial intelligence detection tool 'AI or Not', the content is likely to contain AI elements at 46 percent. Results from Hive Moderation also indicate a 95 percent AI content.
Video 2
The second content excerpts a video of Purbaya during a working meeting with Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the Senayan Parliament Complex on September 10, 2026, published on the Ministry of Finance website.
At that time, Purbaya explained the Ministry of Finance's five strategic programs, including fiscal policy formulation, state revenue, state expenditure management, and state asset management.
This video was also detected by 'AI or NOT' as having elements of artificial intelligence at 62 percent. Hive Moderation also detected AI elements in the content at 99 percent.
Video 3
The following video is also an edited version of the original version reported by Antara on April 6, 2026. At that time, Purbaya explained the government's transportation and fuel policies.
The video was identified as containing 55 percent AI elements, according to 'AI OR Not'. Hive Moderation's analysis also yielded a 99.8 percent detection rate for AI elements.
Video 4
The final video was originally a casual recording uploaded by the TikTok account purbayayudhis on September 27, 2025. Purbaya was responding to netizens' comments about his call for the community to become rich together. In the original video, there was no offer of prizes via a word guessing quiz.
The video was also identified as containing AI elements at 68-78 percent, according to 'AI OR Not'. The 'Hive Moderation' tool also detected AI elements at a rate of 99.2 percent.
Aimed at Collecting Personal Data
Iradat Wirid, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Center for Digital Society at Gadjah Mada University (CfDS UGM), reminded the public to be wary of the use of fake accounts, websites, and WhatsApp numbers. Perpetrators often impersonate officials to manipulate netizens' trust.
While not always causing financial harm initially, perpetrators target vulnerable citizens' personal data.
"This personal data is the starting point for fraud," Iradat told Tempo by phone on Thursday, May 16, 2026.
CONCLUSION
Tempo's verification concluded that the content offering assistance from officials and political figures on Facebook is a false claim.
TEMPO FACT CHECK TEAM
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