Display of Black Dollars Used by Liberian Nationals to Scam South Korean Businessman in West Jakarta
Police have displayed the form of black dollars used as a modus operandi for fraud by three Liberian nationals in West Jakarta. The alleged scam victim is a South Korean national.
Observations by detikcom at the West Jakarta Police Resort on Tuesday (31/3/2026) showed that the black dollar is exactly the size of a US dollar bill. The paper is black in colour.
For information, black dollars are often used as a fraud method. Perpetrators usually claim that the black dollars are stacks of genuine US dollars covered in black carbon to avoid Customs inspections.
Returning to the case in West Jakarta, Deputy Head of Criminal Investigation at West Jakarta Police Resort, Commissioner Raden Dwi Kennardi, stated that the suspects in this case are SDT, IDK, and one fugitive PL. According to him, the black dollars would resemble genuine money when washed with a special solution.
“So for the initial sample or example, there were 3,300 that were washed, and it succeeded, but only USD 300 was given to the victim to exchange at a money changer to build trust that the money was genuine,” said Ken.
Ken said the victim only realised they had been scammed when washing other black dollars, resulting in just ordinary paper. He said the victim had washed the black dollars with the special solution provided by the suspects.
“However, for the entirety, there was no money, just black paper. And the complainant also tried washing it themselves with the remaining solution given by the suspects, but it didn’t work,” he said.
Head of Public Relations at West Jakarta Police Resort, AKP Wisnu Wirawan, stated that the case began in mid-August 2025. The three suspects met and got acquainted with LBO at one of the malls in Jakarta.
“Suspect SDT alias JP offered an investment in the form of black dollars to the victim at one of the hotels in West Jakarta, and the three suspects showed a stack of US dollars,” he explained.
Subsequently, suspects IDK alias JK and SDT showed the victim directly black dollars amounting to USD 3,300. He said SDT washed the money using a special solution until it was clean like genuine money.
“Then, USD 300 of that money was given to the victim and successfully exchanged for rupiah. On 24 September 2025, the three suspects met the victim at the victim’s apartment and brought two suitcases containing US dollars,” he said.
Ken stated that IDK and SDT asked the victim for USD 50,000 to exchange for the stack of black dollars. The suspects requested the money on the grounds of retrieving three more suitcases held at airport Customs.
“Then the victim gave USD 50,000 to the suspects. The three suspects 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 bringing three suitcases along with one jerrycan of solution that had been released,” he said.
SDT took out USD 22,000 from inside the suitcase. Then, the money was washed with one jerrycan, but only a few notes could be washed because the solution was insufficient.
“Then suspect SDT alias JP asked the victim for USD 62,500 to buy new solution, but the victim said they had no money,” he said.
On 21 December 2025, the three suspects returned to the victim’s apartment. At that time, the victim gave USD 50,000 to the suspects.
“Then the three suspects pretended to go buy the solution. Around 14:30, suspect SDT alias JP invited the victim to meet at the mall. There, suspects IDK alias JK and SDT alias JP showed a suitcase containing two jerrycans of solution. After that, the victim returned to their apartment,” he said.