Jakarta - A South Korean national, Lee Byung Ok, became the victim of\na \u2018black dollar\u2019 scam, suffering total losses of approximately Rp1.6\nbillion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe total loss is around Rp1.6 billion,\u201d said Deputy Head of\nCriminal Investigation at the West Jakarta Metropolitan Police Resort,\nCommissioner R Dwi Kennardi, to reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He stated that his team had apprehended two suspects from Liberia in\nthe fraud case.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe suspects are IDK alias JK and SDT alias JP, while the third, PL\nalias P, has fled and is currently listed as a wanted person (DPO),\u201d\nKenn explained.<\/p>\n
The \u2018black dollar\u2019 scam involves counterfeiting money using black,\nblue, or white paper (coated with carbon), which is claimed to be\ngenuine foreign currency (usually US dollars) that has been\ndisguised.<\/p>\n
The perpetrators claim the money was disguised to evade customs and\ncan be cleaned with special chemicals, but in reality, it is fake or\nmixed with only a small amount of real money.<\/p>\n
The incident involving Lee Byung began in August 2025, when the three\nsuspects met the victim at a mall in Jakarta to carry out their criminal\nact.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuspect SDT alias JP then offered the victim an investment in black\ndollars at a hotel in West Jakarta, and the three suspects showed the\nvictim a stack of US dollars amounting to $50,\u201d Kenn explained.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, another 3,000 sheets of black dollars were left uncleaned,\nand the $300 in cleaned dollars were given to the victim to exchange at\na money changer. The result was positive, as the money could be\nexchanged.<\/p>\n
Kenn said this method was used by the perpetrators to gain the\nvictim\u2019s trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn 24 September 2025, the three suspects met the victim at the\nvictim\u2019s apartment and brought two suitcases containing US dollars.\nThen, suspects IDK alias JK and SDT asked the victim for $50,000 to\nretrieve three more suitcases of money held at airport customs,\u201d Kenn\ndetailed.<\/p>\n
Without much thought, the victim immediately handed over the money to\nthe suspects.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe three suspects then pretended to go to the airport to retrieve\nthe suitcases and reassured the victim. The next day, the three suspects\nreturned to the victim\u2019s apartment with three suitcases and one jerry\ncan of liquid that had been released from customs,\u201d Kenn said.<\/p>\n
At the victim\u2019s apartment, suspect SDT took out $22,000 from one of\nthe suitcases and washed it using the liquid from the jerry can.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, only a few notes could be washed because there was not\nenough liquid. Then, suspect SDT asked the victim for $62,500 to buy new\nliquid, but the victim said he did not have the money at that time,\u201d\nKenn revealed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe victim then gave $50,000 to the suspects. The three suspects\nthen pretended to go buy the liquid,\u201d Kenn added.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, around 2:30 PM WIB, the suspects invited the victim to\nmeet at the mall to show him the suitcases containing two jerry cans of\nliquid.<\/p>\n
The victim then returned to his apartment with the three\nsuitcases.<\/p>\n
However, when the victim tried to wash the black dollars he received\nfrom the suspects, instead of dollars, only pieces of paper shaped like\nmoney emerged.<\/p>\n
As a result of the incident, the victim suffered losses and reported\nthe matter to the police.<\/p>\n
After receiving the report, the police conducted an investigation and\napprehended two suspects, namely IDK alias JK and SDT alias JP. The\nthird, PL alias P, remains at large.<\/p>\n
For their actions, the perpetrators are charged under Article 378 of\nthe Criminal Code for fraud.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a maximum prison sentence of four years,\u201d Kenn emphasised.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/black-dollar-scam-south-korean-national-loses-rp1-6-billion-1774950802", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }