Central Java Police Arrest 11 Foreigners and 27 Indonesians in Rp 41.1 Billion Love Scamming Fraud

The Central Java Regional Police (Polda Jateng) have uncovered an international online fraud network employing the ‘pig butchering’ method operating in Sukoharjo Regency and Surakarta. Authorities arrested 38 suspects, comprising 27 Indonesian citizens, four Myanmar nationals, and seven Nepalese nationals.

Director of Cyber Crime at Central Java Regional Police, Kombes Pol Himawan Sutanto Saragih, stated that the 38 suspects were apprehended on Wednesday (20/05/20ng). According to Himawan, the case came to light following reports from members of the public who identified suspicious digital activities.

Investigations revealed that the ‘pig butchering’ fraud network operated through PT Digi Global Konsultan, located in Solo Baru, Sukoharjo Regency. The company served as both a recruitment hub for workers and an operational office for the online fraud, which specifically targeted foreign nationals, particularly citizens of the United States.

In its operations, the network lured potential victims through various dating applications such as Tinder and Boo. Once potential victims were identified, the perpetrators established communication using fictitious photos and identities.

“They initiate contact and then attempt to seduce their victims. Subsequent communication is then moved to WhatsApp,” explained Kombes Pol Himawan on Monday (25/05/2026).

He added that to build trust, the perpetrators maintained communication and relationships with potential victims over an extended period. The network even prepared real models to appear during video calls to enhance authenticity.

“During video calls, the models are displayed, making the interaction appear genuine,” said Himawan. He further noted that the ‘pig butchering’ network targeted foreign nationals as victims, as the models used in the schemes were Indonesian.