Beware! This Illegal Loan Shark Scheme Could Drain Your Bank Account
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) through the Task Force for Eradicating Illegal Financial Activities (Satgas PASTI) has identified and halted 951 illegal online loan entities as well as 2 illegal investment offers on various websites and applications that could potentially harm the public up to March 2026.
These measures are intended to strengthen efforts to eradicate illegal financial activities and handle financial transaction fraud as part of consumer and public protection initiatives.
Additionally, Satgas PASTI has examined several patterns of illegal financial activities and fraud that are currently most frequently reported by the public.
These patterns include advertising services with a deposit system. This scheme offers income from simple activities such as giving reviews, watching ads, or clicking links, which then require a fund deposit with promises of multiplied returns.
Next is the duplication or imitation of investment offers from licensed entities (impersonation). Perpetrators mimic the names, logos, or identities of legitimate financial service businesses to convince the public, even though the offers are not made by the authorised parties.
Then, there is the funding offer scheme. This offers funding for businesses or specific projects with promises of fixed returns, but without adequate explanations of the business model, agreements, or supervision.
Furthermore, there is the money game scheme. This relies on recruiting new members (member get member) as the source of profit payments, rather than from genuine and sustainable business activities.
In addition, there is illegal cryptocurrency asset trading. This scheme offers investments or trading in cryptocurrency assets by parties that are not registered or do not have permission from the relevant authorities, often accompanied by claims of high returns without risk.
“These patterns are generally disseminated through social media, private messages, chat groups, and other digital channels,” stated Hudiyanto, Secretary of the Task Force for Eradicating Illegal Financial Activities, in his remarks on Wednesday (29/4/2026).
OJK also reported that from 22 November 2024 to 31 March 2026, the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC) has received 515,345 reports from the public.
In handling these reports, 872,395 accounts have been reported and verified, and 460,270 accounts have been blocked.
From these efforts, the total blocked victim funds amount to approximately Rp585.4 billion. IASC has returned Rp169 billion in victim funds originating from accounts at 19 banks used by fraud perpetrators.
In light of the ongoing prevalence of illegal financial activities and financial transaction fraud, Satgas PASTI and OJK urge the public to be vigilant against investment or activity offers promising high, guaranteed, and quick returns.
They should ensure the legality of business actors and financial service products through OJK’s official channels (Contact 157), avoid easily believing offers delivered via private messages, social media, or links with unclear sources.
Additionally, do not provide personal data, account information, OTP codes, or passwords to any parties. And immediately report any indications of illegal financial activities to sipasti.ojk.go.id and report financial transaction fraud to iasc.ojk.go.id.
If indications of illegal online loan or investment offers are found, the public can report them via the website sipasti.ojk.go.id or through OJK Contact 157, WhatsApp 081 157 157 157, and email [email protected].
Meanwhile, victims of financial transaction fraud can report via the website iasc.ojk.go.id to support quick blocking of perpetrator accounts.