Beware! Fraud via Advertisements in Chinese Dramas: Understanding the Modus Operandi
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) continues its efforts to eradicate various illegal financial activities within society, including those embedded in Chinese drama broadcasts. This is being carried out consistently to protect consumers from the risk of losses caused by financial entities that do not possess official licences.
Based on data from the beginning of the year until 20 May 2026, OJK has recorded 17,105 complaints related to illegal entities. The Chief Executive of OJK, Dicky Kartikoyono, stated that these thousands of reports indicate the high level of illegal financial activity that needs to be addressed.
“From that total, there were 14,380 complaints regarding illegal online loans, 2,601 complaints related to illegal investments, and 124 complaints related to illegal pawning,” he said during a virtual press conference, as reported on Saturday (6/6/2026).
He explained that OJK, through the PASTI Task Force, has followed up on these complaints by shutting down 951 illegal online lending entities, 8 illegal investment offers, and 1 other illegal financial activity across various websites and applications that potentially harm the public.
He revealed that throughout May 2026, the PASTI Task Force has halted business activities involving various modes of operation. Furthermore, fraud is also being perpetrated by foreign parties suspected of using impersonation tactics and offering illegal Initial Public Offering (IPO) stock investments.
Additionally, the public is urged to be cautious of other fraudulent methods, such as schemes involving tasks related to watching Chinese dramas and the purported purchase of film copyrights to generate profit.
Other identified methods include impersonation scams involving the creation of e-commerce accounts and depositing funds to earn commissions. There are also scams involving impersonation through tasks such as watching advertisements and financing fictitious projects.
Furthermore, there is a fraudulent mode involving suspected cryptocurrency investments through copy trading schemes.
In the framework of enforcing consumer protection regulations, OJK has issued written warnings and/or administrative sanctions, including 4t written warnings to 44 Financial Service Providers (PUJK), 5 written instructions to 5 PUJK, and 17 fines to 15 PUJK.
Meanwhile, during the same period, regarding the market conduct of PUJK, OJK has imposed 17 administrative sanctions in the form of written warnings and 11 administrative sanctions in the form of fines.