Hoax Buzzer Syndicate Rakes in 220 Million Rupiah Since 2024
Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) have arrested eight members of a buzzer syndicate that created fake news content on social media. Operating since 2024, the perpetrators amassed Rp 220 million.
The Director of Criminal Investigation at Polda Metro Jaya, Chief Commissioner Iman Imanuddin, explained that the value of each content project varied depending on the time interval, the issue, and the level of difficulty. Preliminary investigation results show that officers seized Rp 220 million allegedly received by the perpetrators from those who commissioned the work.
“The value per project offered by the clients, based on the investigation, varied depending on the time interval, the issue, and its level of difficulty. Today, or currently, what we are carrying out is a seizure — there is evidence in the form of money amounting to Rp 220,000,000,” said Iman at a press conference at Polda Metro Jaya, Jakarta, on Monday (27/7/2026).
Iman explained that the money was obtained by the perpetrators as payment for projects running since 2024.
“And this has been confirmed by the suspects as part of the payment for those projects. As for the period of production, it has been going on since 2024,” he said.
Investigating the Clients
Iman affirmed that his team is investigating alleged corruption related to the project payments made to the suspects. Police are still probing whether there was any misuse of state funds connected to the case.
“Then earlier, questions arose about the connection and the potential for alleged corruption. As we have already stated, if the money used to pay for these projects is state money, then certainly a deeper investigation can be conducted into the alleged misuse of state finances, resulting in losses to the state, because the money was not used for its intended purpose,” he said.
Iman said investigators are currently gathering the content that constituted the suspects’ projects. Police have not yet been able to explain in detail what the content consists of, as the investigation is still ongoing.
“Our investigative team is, of course, gathering all the content uploaded by the suspects related to their actions,” he revealed.
The suspects have been charged under Article 32 in conjunction with Article 48 of Law Number 1 of 2024, the second amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions, which carries a maximum penalty of eight years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp 2 billion.