Immigration Authorities Arrest Four Chinese Nationals as Part of Online Fraud Syndicate

Semarang Immigration authorities have arrested four Chinese nationals suspected of being members of an international online fraud syndicate at a residence in the Puri Anjasmala area, Semarang, Central Java.

The Head of Semarang Immigration, Ari Widodo, stated on Sunday that the arrests, which took place on Thursday (4/6), followed a two-week investigation. “Based on observations and field investigations, officers identified indications of suspicious activities carried out by several foreign nationals in a house located in the Puri Eksekutif housing estate, West Semarang,” he said.

The four Chinese nationals arrested were identified as HJ (40), HK (44), HY (44), and TW (37). Additionally, officers detained two Indonesian citizens, identified by the initials DS (26) and E (26), for questioning.

During the search and initial inspection, officers discovered 604 mobile phones, dozens of laptops and computers, and hundreds of SIM cards. According to Widodo, preliminary investigations suggest the four Chinese nationals are part of an international online fraud network that utilises various digital communication platforms, such as the DingTalk and DingDing applications.

Further investigation revealed that the syndicate targets victims located outside of Indonesia. The foreign nationals are also suspected of violating their stay permits. As a result of their actions, the four foreigners face charges under Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration.