What to Do If You See a Pocong, According to Folklore

The pocong (poh-CHONG) is one of the scariest ghosts from Indonesian and Malaysian folklore, and creepy videos of them are appearing all over TikTok. These frightening, shrouded figures chase after people, but people wonder if they’re dangerous if they catch you. Keep reading for a comprehensive breakdown of what pocongs are, what they do when they find you, and how to react if you see one, with insights from urban legends expert Sydney Bermudez.

What to Do if a Pocong Catches You

Urban legends expert Sydney Bermudez says a pocong is the spirit of a deceased person trapped in their burial shroud. Some pocongs only want to relay a message or ask for prayers, but others may try to scare you or make you very sick. Try to run away if you see a pocong, or untie its binds to release the spirit.

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What is a pocong?

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Pocong is a ghost wrapped in a shroud from Indonesian folklore. According to Bermudez, a pocong is believed to be the spirit of a deceased person trapped in their burial shroud. “If the shroud is not properly untied after burial, the soul is unable to move on and returns to the living world.”^{[1]
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Expert Source

Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert

Expert Interview} It then becomes a pocong within 40 days of moving on.
- The name “pocong” translates to “wrapped in shroud.”
- Check out this TikTok by @s_spooky13 for a quick overview on pocongs.
- In Malaysia, a pocong is called “Hantu Bungkus,” which means “wrapped-up ghost.”
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Sydney Bermudez is an urban legends expert. She specializes in horror storytelling, Mexican folklore, creepy pastas and urban legends, and shares stories to over 400k followers on TikTok and Instagram.

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Pocong Characteristics

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Appearance Bermudez says pocongs often appear wrapped in white cloth.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert

Expert Interview} It’s called a kain kafan, or burial shroud, and is tied in many places. While the ghost’s actual appearance depends on what the person looked like and how long ago they died, most pocongs have red faces and wide, bleeding eyes.
- Pocongs that have been buried for a long time may look more like a skeleton.
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Behavior Because pocongs have their legs and feet tied, they either hop or float to get around. This has made them “one of the most recognizable and feared figures in Indonesian ghost lore,” says Bermudez.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert

Expert Interview} Pocongs can travel anywhere, but they’re normally found near their final resting place. While most pocongs appear by themselves, they’ve also been seen traveling in larger groups.^{[4]
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Research source}
- One TikTok by @smitherenes shows a pocong hopping toward the person filming, but its feet never touch the ground.
- Some people claim that pocongs can also teleport instantly between locations.

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What happens if a pocong catches you?

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According to one alleged pocong encounter in 2007-2008, anyone who answered the door when it knocked developed a mysterious illness and died within a few days.^{[5]
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Research source} Other people claim that pocongs purposefully try to frighten people, so their appearance can cause a lot of stress and fear when they’re nearby.
Some pocongs appear without any malicious intent, and they may be seeking help to release their souls from the shroud. These pocongs may appear briefly to give you a message before disappearing again.

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Are pocongs dangerous?

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Some pocongs are harmless, but others can be dangerous. “Folklore says that encountering a pocong is considered a bad omen, often associated with unresolved guilt, unfinished business, or improper burial rituals,” according to Bermudez.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert

Expert Interview} Some pocongs only want to deliver a message to the living or have their binds undone, and they won’t harm anyone. However, pocongs can act unpredictably, and others may try to frighten or attack you. It’s usually best to keep your distance from a pocong if you’re able to.
- “Many stories warn that seeing [a pocong] can bring intense fear, illness, or lingering misfortune, which is why they’re commonly tied to graveyards, abandoned places, and late-night sightings,” continues Bermudez.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Sydney Bermudez
  Urban Legends Expert
  
  Expert Interview}
- Pocongs wrapped in red shrouds are considered the most dangerous. It’s believed the red shroud symbolizes that the person was angry before they died, and they want to seek revenge. They’re considered the most dangerous because they attack without being provoked.

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