Beware Messages Posing as Indonesia's Halal Agency Asking Payment for a Certification 'Delay'
Indonesia's halal agency BPJPH says it received a letter demanding payment on the pretext of postponing mandatory halal certification, and asks businesses to report anyone who claims to act for it and asks for money. Here is how to check and what team rules to set.Shortly before halal certification became mandatory for small food businesses in mid-October 2026, Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) said it had received a letter demanding payment on the pretext of a postponement. According to InfoPublik, the government news service, on 14 October 2026, BPJPH asks businesses to report anyone who claims to act on its behalf and then intimidates them or asks for money, whether the excuse is a delay or completing certification.
An honest sense of scale first. The evidence is one official BPJPH statement. Our sources give no number of victims and no value of losses, so we will not call this widespread. An official warning is still reason enough to put a fence up, especially for food businesses whose obligation is about four weeks old and many of which are still applying.
What BPJPH said
All points are from InfoPublik unless stated otherwise.
- BPJPH head Ahmad Haikal Hasan said mandatory halal certification goes ahead with no postponement. A "paid delay" therefore contradicts the official position.
- BPJPH has received a letter demanding payment on the pretext of a postponement. Businesses are asked to keep evidence and report to the authorities.
- Businesses are asked to be careful with information that does not come from official government channels. The official site named is bpjph.halal.go.id.
- Haikal guaranteed there would be no sweeps (field raids) or similar action against businesses.
- Businesses that are not ready are asked to send a formal request letter to BPJPH, and sending one does not automatically bring relief.
- According to Investortrust on 14 October 2026, applications go through the SiHalal online system, and the Sehati programme (Sertifikasi Halal Gratis, free halal certification) provides certification at no cost for micro and small businesses.
Three simple anchors follow. No postponement can be bought. No officer is promised to turn up on a raid. An official application route exists, and part of it is free.
Why deadlines attract fraudsters
This is our observation, not something from the sources. Whenever a new obligation starts, three things meet: an anxious owner, unfamiliar official terms, and a time limit. A message that combines them, such as "your business is recorded as uncertified, pay today to avoid being sealed", works because it pushes people to act before they check. That is the shape of a halal certification scam.
Signs a message or letter deserves suspicion
This checklist is our practical advice, built from the BPJPH statement above.
- It promises a delay or relief in return for payment. This is exactly the pattern BPJPH reported.
- It threatens a raid, sealing or seizure within days. The BPJPH head guaranteed no sweeps.
- It asks for a transfer to an account in a private person's name or to an e-wallet.
- It offers "fast processing" outside SiHalal, especially from a number you do not know.
- It rushes you: "today is the last day", "tell nobody", "the officer is on the way".
- It asks for irrelevant data: one-time codes, account passwords, the owner's identity card photo by chat.
- It links to an address other than bpjph.halal.go.id, even if the page looks similar.
One sign is enough to stop and check.
How to check in five minutes
- Do not reply, do not click the link, do not call the number written in the message.
- Open bpjph.halal.go.id yourself by typing the address into your browser. Look for information or contacts there.
- If you already have a SiHalal account, log in and look at your application status. Accurate information about your business appears there, not in a message from a personal number.
- If the message names an adviser or an institution, ask through a contact you obtained yourself from an official channel.
We deliberately list no complaint phone number or email address, because none appears in the sources we read. Take contacts from the official site.
Team rules to put in writing
Fraudsters often do not contact the owner. They contact the cashier, the chat administrator or the finance clerk and claim to have already spoken to the owner. Three written rules close that gap:
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| One door | Every message, letter or visitor about licences and certification goes to one named person. Other staff do not answer and promise nothing. |
| No transfers to personal accounts | No payment of fines, delay fees or "fast processing" goes to an individual's account, whoever asks. |
| Two people for any unexpected payment | A payment outside routine bills needs the owner's approval and an entry in the books before money leaves. |
Post them near the till and pin them in the work group chat. A rule that exists only in the owner's head does not apply when the owner is out of town.
If the message has already arrived
- Keep evidence. Screenshots of the full message with the sender's number, photos of the letter and its envelope, the destination account name and number, the time received.
- Report it. BPJPH asks for cases like this to be reported to the authorities. Bring the evidence.
- If money has already been sent, contact your bank at once with the transfer receipt, then file a report.
- Tell your team, and fellow traders where useful, describing what you received without exaggerating.
The proper route still has to be walked
Turning a fraudster away does not settle the obligation. If your business is not certified, start the application through SiHalal and ask about the Sehati programme. Keep proof of the process in one folder. Then, when a frightening message arrives, you know exactly where your business stands and are hard to shake.
The "record before money leaves" rule is easier to run when every payment goes into one set of books. Polynusa provides bookkeeping that records invoices and payments, see the pricing page.
Note: for certainty about your business's status and duties, ask BPJPH directly through its official channels.
Sources
- InfoPublik (Komdigi), 14 October 2026: Wajib Halal Berlaku 18 Oktober 2026, BPJPH Minta Perusahaan Belum Siap Ajukan Permohonan
- Investortrust, 14 October 2026: Aturan Wajib Sertifikasi Halal UMK Mulai Berlaku 17 Oktober 2026
FAQ
Does Indonesia's halal agency charge a fee to postpone certification?
The head of BPJPH said there is no postponement of mandatory halal certification, and according to InfoPublik the agency asks businesses to report anyone who claims to act for it and demands payment on the pretext of a delay or of completing certification.
Where is official information on halal certification?
InfoPublik names the official site bpjph.halal.go.id for policies, procedures and certification services. According to Investortrust, applications go through the SiHalal system.
What should I do if I receive a message asking for money in BPJPH's name?
Do not pay and do not reply with business details. Keep the evidence, meaning the message, sender number, letter and destination account, and report it to the authorities as BPJPH asks.