Ditipu

Ditipu is a term used in Malay and Indonesian to mean being deceived or swindled. It is the passive past participle form of the verb tipu, which means to deceive or trick. The word is common in everyday speech, media reporting, and formal writing across Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore.

Etymology and related terms: The root tipu denotes deception, while ditipu expresses that someone has fallen victim to that deception. Related words include tipuan (deception or trick), penipu (deceiver or swindler), and tipu (to deceive). The form ditipu signals that the action was experienced by the subject rather than performed by them.

Usage: Ditipu describes a person who has been duped by fraud, scams, or misleading schemes. Examples include online scams, counterfeit goods, investment fraud, and romance scams. In Indonesian, one might say, Saya ditipu oleh penipu online. In Malay, Saya ditipu oleh penipu dalam urus niaga itu. The term is frequently found in news reporting to label victims of fraud or to describe the actions of scammers.

Context and prevention: Fraud is illegal in many jurisdictions, and consumer protection agencies advise prudent online practices to avoid being ditipu. Common guidance includes verifying sources, avoiding unsolicited offers, using secure payment methods, and reporting suspicious activity to authorities. The concept of ditipu thus intersects language, law, and consumer protection by capturing the experience of deception.