Immigration uncovers transnational 'love scamming' network in Medan

A joint operation by the Medan Special Class I Immigration Office and the North Sumatra Regional Police has uncovered a transnational online fraud network using a romance scam modus operandi in Medan. The operation resulted in the arrest of seven foreign nationals and 31 Indonesian citizens suspected of involvement in the syndicate. The foreign suspects comprised six Chinese nationals with the initials ZH, XZ, XYXY, ZW, XW, and XH, and one Vietnamese national with the initials MTTT. The first raid was conducted on Tuesday (23/6) following covert surveillance of a shop house in the CBD Polonia area, where officers discovered ongoing online fraud activities and apprehended one Chinese coordinator along with 31 Indonesian nationals. The investigation was expanded in the early hours of Wednesday (24/6) to the Royal Sumatra area and the Golden Eleven Hotel, leading to the arrest of six more foreign nationals believed to be the network’s operators. Authorities seized 120 mobile phones, 55 computers, seven laptops, 48 keyboards, seven valid travel documents, and dozens of other supporting hardware devices. The head of the Medan Immigration Office stated that the disclosure demonstrates a commitment to curbing transnational crime, adding that coordination with the Chinese and Vietnamese embassies is underway to deport the seven foreigners and impose a 10-year entry ban in accordance with Immigration Law Number 6 of 2011. The case is being further developed with the North Sumatra Police, including efforts to locate other foreigners suspected of involvement in the network.