Indonesia Collaborates with 9 Nations, Rp13.2 Trillion in Fraud Losses Uncovered, 3,018 Fraudsters Arrested
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Indonesia is intensifying its fight against cross-border financial fraud. Through the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC), the country has joined forces with authorities from Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand, Macau, Brunei, and Canada to conduct a coordinated operation titled Operation FRONTIER+ from 10 March to 7 May 2026.
The operation aims to strengthen international coordination in dismantling increasingly rampant cross-border fraud networks that harm society and the global financial sector.
Over 3,200 personnel were deployed to tackle various fraud schemes, including e-commerce scams, job offer frauds, fake investments, impersonation of government officials, and impersonation of relatives or friends.
According to a press statement, anti-fraud authorities and law enforcement agencies achieved significant results from the joint operation.
First, 3,018 individuals were arrested, with suspects ranging from 13 to 85 years old. Second, 7,553 people are currently under investigation for suspected involvement in fraud networks.
Third, authorities uncovered over 138,000 fraud cases resulting in total losses of US$752 million (approximately Rp13.2 trillion). Fourth, around 102,000 bank accounts suspected of being involved in fraudulent activities were frozen. Fifth, over US$161 million (around Rp2.8 trillion) in illicit funds were seized.
The establishment of the FRONTIER+ international collaboration platform is seen as a strategic move to enhance global coordination in combating fraud.
Currently, FRONTIER+ involves anti-scam centre representatives from 14 jurisdictions: Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, Thailand, Macau, Brunei, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and the United States.
The platform serves as a venue for real-time information and intelligence sharing, while supporting regular cross-border joint operations.
Going forward, FRONTIER+ is expected to expand its scope by including more countries to enhance the effectiveness of global fraud enforcement.
Amid rising complexity in digital fraud tactics, the public is urged to remain vigilant.
Authorities have advised the public not to trust offers promising high returns in a short time. They also urged citizens to verify the legitimacy of businesses and financial services through OJK’s official channels, including Contact 157.
Additionally, the public is warned to be cautious of offers received via private messages, social media, or unclear sources.
OJK also reminded citizens to safeguard personal data, including account details, OTP codes, and passwords.
If individuals encounter indications of illegal financial activity, they are instructed to report via sipasti.ojk.go.id and report financial fraud to iasc.ojk.go.id.
This international collaborative effort is expected to deter perpetrators and enhance public protection against increasingly sophisticated and organised fraud threats.