Black Dollar Scam Method: Claiming a Liquid Can Turn It into Real Money
Police have revealed a scam method employed by two Liberian nationals, initialled SDT and I, involving counterfeit money through the ‘black dollar’ or black dollar scheme. Police stated that the suspects used a certain liquid to convert black dollars into genuine dollars.
“There is one suitcase of liquid, which according to the suspects is used as a means to deceive victims, as the suspects claim this can turn black dollar paper into genuine dollars,” said Head of the Public Relations Sub-section of the Public Relations Division of Metro Jaya Police, Kompol Andaru Rahutomo, to reporters on Friday (27/3/2026).
In this case, police also seized a safe whose contents are yet to be determined. Currently, the evidence has been secured by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Metro Jakarta West Police Resort.
“There are several suitcases that were secured containing the aforementioned scam tools, as well as several safes that were also secured as scam instruments,” he said.
Quoted from the official CBP website, black dollars are a form of scam paper that resembles foreign currency in size and sometimes feels similar when held. However, the black dollar will appear as black, blue, or white paper when checked under ultraviolet light.
In this scam, the perpetrators usually fabricate stories about the money’s colour changing due to chemicals to avoid detection by Customs authorities. The perpetrators then fabricate stories about needing cash and offer the black dollars to victims at a discount.
The perpetrators will explain how victims can ‘wash’ the colour of the banknotes to reveal the actual foreign currency. The perpetrators usually mix genuine money with black money to convince victims more. The black banknotes are counterfeit money.
Target: South Korean National
Based on the victim’s report, the incident occurred between September and December 2025. However, the victim only realised they had been scammed on 8 March 2026, leading to a police report at the Metro Jakarta West Police Resort. Police revealed that the victim in this case is also a foreign national from South Korea.
“The individuals were arrested for committing a fraud crime against a foreign national from South Korea using the black dollar method,” said Head of the Public Relations Sub-section of the Public Relations Division of Metro Jaya Police, Kompol Andaru Rahutomo, to reporters on Friday (27/3).
Currently, both Liberian nationals have been designated as suspects. They are being held at the Metro Jakarta West Police Resort.
“This is still being calculated (the losses). Whether this continued, ongoing, over several stages, this is still being calculated by the Metro Jakarta West Police Resort,” he said.