Black Dollar Scam: South Korean National Loses Rp1.6 Billion

Jakarta - A South Korean national, Lee Byung Ok, became the victim of a ‘black dollar’ scam, suffering total losses of approximately Rp1.6 billion.

“The total loss is around Rp1.6 billion,” said Deputy Head of Criminal Investigation at the West Jakarta Metropolitan Police Resort, Commissioner R Dwi Kennardi, to reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He stated that his team had apprehended two suspects from Liberia in the fraud case.

“The suspects are IDK alias JK and SDT alias JP, while the third, PL alias P, has fled and is currently listed as a wanted person (DPO),” Kenn explained.

The ‘black dollar’ scam involves counterfeiting money using black, blue, or white paper (coated with carbon), which is claimed to be genuine foreign currency (usually US dollars) that has been disguised.

The perpetrators claim the money was disguised to evade customs and can be cleaned with special chemicals, but in reality, it is fake or mixed with only a small amount of real money.

The incident involving Lee Byung began in August 2025, when the three suspects met the victim at a mall in Jakarta to carry out their criminal act.

“Suspect SDT alias JP then offered the victim an investment in black dollars at a hotel in West Jakarta, and the three suspects showed the victim a stack of US dollars amounting to $50,” Kenn explained.

Meanwhile, another 3,000 sheets of black dollars were left uncleaned, and the $300 in cleaned dollars were given to the victim to exchange at a money changer. The result was positive, as the money could be exchanged.

Kenn said this method was used by the perpetrators to gain the victim’s trust.

“On 24 September 2025, the three suspects met the victim at the victim’s apartment and brought two suitcases containing US dollars. Then, suspects IDK alias JK and SDT asked the victim for $50,000 to retrieve three more suitcases of money held at airport customs,” Kenn detailed.

Without much thought, the victim immediately handed over the money to the suspects.

“The three suspects then pretended to go to the airport to retrieve the suitcases and reassured the victim. The next day, the three suspects returned to the victim’s apartment with three suitcases and one jerry can of liquid that had been released from customs,” Kenn said.

At the victim’s apartment, suspect SDT took out $22,000 from one of the suitcases and washed it using the liquid from the jerry can.

“However, only a few notes could be washed because there was not enough liquid. Then, suspect SDT asked the victim for $62,500 to buy new liquid, but the victim said he did not have the money at that time,” Kenn revealed.

“The victim then gave $50,000 to the suspects. The three suspects then pretended to go buy the liquid,” Kenn added.

Subsequently, around 2:30 PM WIB, the suspects invited the victim to meet at the mall to show him the suitcases containing two jerry cans of liquid.

The victim then returned to his apartment with the three suitcases.

However, when the victim tried to wash the black dollars he received from the suspects, instead of dollars, only pieces of paper shaped like money emerged.

As a result of the incident, the victim suffered losses and reported the matter to the police.

After receiving the report, the police conducted an investigation and apprehended two suspects, namely IDK alias JK and SDT alias JP. The third, PL alias P, remains at large.

For their actions, the perpetrators are charged under Article 378 of the Criminal Code for fraud.

“With a maximum prison sentence of four years,” Kenn emphasised.