Central Java Police, FBI Dismantle Romance-Fuelled Pig Butchering Fraud Network

The Central Java Regional Police have dismantled an international online fraud network using the ‘pig butchering’ modus operandi, which was operating in Sukoharjo Regency and Surakarta City. They arrested 38 suspects, consisting of 27 Indonesian citizens, four Myanmar nationals, and seven Nepalese nationals. In uncovering the case, the Central Java Police’s Cyber Crime Directorate collaborated with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). ‘In this case, the perpetrators targeted United States citizens, so during the investigation process we worked with the FBI,’ said Central Java Police Cyber Crime Director, Commissioner Himawan Sutanto Saragih, during a press conference at the Central Java Police Headquarters in Semarang on Monday (1/6/2026). Himawan explained that the pig butchering fraud network was detected through a cyber patrol. After further investigation, the network was tracked down operating in the Sukoharjo and Surakarta areas. ‘The perpetrators used the name PT Digi Global Konsultan, which served as a job recruitment centre and was also used as the operational office for these organised online fraud activities,’ said Himawan. At this location, the perpetrators ran their operations. ‘This online fraud was carried out by intensively building an emotional relationship with the victim via social media and dating apps such as Tinder and Boo, as well as digital communication apps like Facebook,’ Himawan stated.