Black Dollar Scam: Two Liberian Nationals Arrested in Kembangan Apartment

The West Jakarta Metro Police have arrested two foreign nationals from Liberia, with initials SDT and I. They were apprehended for involvement in a counterfeit money scam using the black dollar or black dollar method.

The Deputy Head of Public Information and Media for the Greater Jakarta Metro Police Public Relations Division, Kompol Andaru Rahutomo, stated that the pair were arrested in an apartment in the West Jakarta area on Wednesday (18/3/2026).

“Correct, two Liberian suspects were secured in an apartment in Meruya, Kembangan, West Jakarta, for a black dollar scam,” Andaru revealed to reporters on Thursday (26/3).

In a video received by detikcom, SDT and I were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the West Jakarta Metro Police while eating in a room inside the apartment building. At the time of their arrest, there was another male figure also eating with them.

Officers briefly showed the arrest warrant to the pair. Afterwards, the officers immediately asked them to raise their hands for a body search.

At that moment, officers appeared to secure a suitcase containing a bundle wrapped in brown, suspected to hold black dollar liquid. Subsequently, the police took the two Liberian nationals directly to the West Jakarta Police Headquarters for further examination.

Andaru also mentioned that the two Liberian nationals are currently being questioned by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the West Jakarta Metro Police.

“Currently, the two suspects are undergoing investigation by the West Jakarta Metro Police Criminal Investigation Unit,” he explained.

For information, according to the official CBP website, black dollar or black dollar refers to the paper form of the black money scam that resembles US currency in size and sometimes feels similar when held. However, the black dollar will appear like black, blue, or white paper when checked under ultraviolet light.

In the black money scam, the perpetrators usually fabricate a story about the money’s colour changing due to chemicals to avoid detection by Customs authorities. The perpetrators then fabricate a story about needing cash and offer the black dollar to victims at a discount.

The perpetrators will explain how the victim can ‘wash’ the paper money’s colour to reveal the actual US currency. The perpetrators usually mix real money with black money to convince the victim more. The black paper money is fake money.