{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1607431,
        "msgid": "meta-blocks-150-000-accounts-in-southeast-asian-scam-network-21-perpetrators-arrested-1773298378",
        "date": "2026-03-12 13:05:00",
        "title": "Meta Blocks 150,000 Accounts in Southeast Asian Scam Network, 21 Perpetrators Arrested",
        "author": "Yudha Pratomo",
        "source": "KOMPAS",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Regulation",
        "summary": "Meta has blocked 150,000 accounts linked to a fraudulent scam network operating across Southeast Asia, with 21 perpetrators arrested in a joint international law enforcement operation. The criminal network, primarily operating from Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, employs sophisticated tactics including romantic scams and fake cryptocurrency investments across multiple languages. Meta has introduced new warning features to help users identify suspicious accounts and prevent fraud.",
        "content": "<p>Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has\nshut down 150,000 accounts associated with a fraud and scam network in\nSoutheast Asia.<\/p>\n<p>The blockade resulted from a joint operation between Meta and\ninternational law enforcement agencies. The operation was led by the\nThai Royal Police\u2019s Anti-Cybercrime Centre (ACSC), the US Federal Bureau\nof Investigation (FBI), the US Department of Justice\u2019s fraud task force,\nand other law enforcement partners working with Meta globally, including\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to blocking hundreds of thousands of accounts, Meta and\nlaw enforcement agencies also arrested 21 individuals involved in the\nfraud network that targeted people worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>This operation represents a continuation of the \u201cJoint Disruption\nWeek\u201d pilot programme in December 2025, during which the ACSC, Meta, and\nother law enforcement agencies shared information intensively and\ndeactivated 59,000 accounts.<\/p>\n<p>According to Meta, the online fraud network, which predominantly\noperates from Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, has become increasingly\nsophisticated in recent years. Authorities report that the network now\noperates like a large-scale criminal enterprise carefully designed to\nevade detection by authorities.<\/p>\n<p>Perpetrators typically deceive victims by posing as potential\nromantic interests or offering fraudulent cryptocurrency investment\nschemes. This method is now executed in multiple languages to target\nvictims across many countries.<\/p>\n<p>In response to the enforcement action against fraud-related accounts,\nMeta has introduced several new features intended to protect users from\nscams. As part of its fraud prevention efforts, Meta is testing a new\nwarning feature to help Facebook users identify potentially suspicious\naccounts. When someone sends or receives a friend request from an\naccount showing suspicious activity, users will see a warning\nnotification. Examples of suspicious activity include having few mutual\nfriends or displaying a different country location than the profile\nindicates. Through this notification, users can reconsider whether to\nblock or decline suspected unsafe friend requests.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/meta-blocks-150-000-accounts-in-southeast-asian-scam-network-21-perpetrators-arrested-1773298378",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}