International Online Gambling Network Uncovered Using Comment Spam Tactics
The Cyber Crime Directorate (Dittipidsiber) of the Indonesian National Police (Bareskrim Polri) has dismantled an international online gambling network. This syndicate, which recorded transactions valued at Rp 1 trillion, utilised a comment spam modus operandi.
Brigadier General Adex Yudiswan of the Cyber Crime Directorate stated that the gambling syndicate operates in Indonesia and several other countries. He noted that the network operates online gambling websites including 1XBET, AJ8KEREN, and EMPIRE88.
“These online gambling websites operate both nationally and internationally,” said Brigadier General Adex during a press conference at the Bareskrim Polri Building, South Jakarta, on Thursday (3/9/2026).
He mentioned that the gambling syndicate utilised payment service companies in Indonesia to manage player deposits.
“The estimated profit based on transaction facts from January to 2026 recorded transactions of Rp 1,037,790,052,498. This is equivalent to Rp 260 billion per month, or approximately Rp 8.6 billion per day,” he stated.
Five Suspects Identified
Police have named five individuals as suspects in this case. Adex explained that the suspects used a modus operandi of establishing a fictitious company named PT Ultra Payment Terpercaya (PT UPT) to facilitate the flow of funds.
The identities and roles of the suspects are as follows:
APU, arrested in Semarang (1s July 2026). He acted as a liaison and was responsible for finding a fictitious director for the company.
MAY, arrested in Semarang (15 July 2026). He acted as the fictitious Director of PT UPT to collect deposits.
R, arrested in South Tangerang (13 July 2026). He was responsible for ordering the search for a fictitious director and opening bank accounts.
GG, arrested in East Jakarta (13 July 2026). He was responsible for creating the legal documentation for PT UPT.
TS, arrested in South Tangerang (20 July 2026). He was responsible for managing financial transactions from the fictitious company.
Investigators are also hunting for FP, who is currently on the most wanted list (DPO). FP is suspected of ordering the other suspects and controlling transaction operations.
“The role of the fugitive FP was to instruct suspects R, GG, and S with their respective tasks as explained above, and to facilitate the operational path of these online gambling transactions,” he said.
Fund Flows Frozen
Bareskrim Polri has also frozen the flow of funds. Total assets seized from this network amount to tens of billions of rupiah.
“Bareskrim Polri has successfully frozen funds held by five payment service providers, including PT KPG, PT HST, PT UPB, PT BPR, and PT K, with a total value of Rp 51,991,693,314,” explained Adex.
Investigators also seized eight mobile phones, 17 bank tokens, savings books, ATM cards, and bundles of bank cheques. Adex guaranteed that the authorities have submitted requests for the disconnection or take-down of all such websites to the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi).
“We have officially submitted a request for access disconnection or take-down to Kominfo for all these websites so they can no longer be accessed by the public,” he asserted.
The suspects face charges under Article 26 (1) and/or Article 82 and/or Article 85 of Law Number 3 of 2011 concerning Criminal Acts of Fund Transfers, and/or Article 607 of Law Number 1 of 2023 (the Criminal Code), with a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.
Overseas Control Centre
Police are conducting further investigations. Although operating in Indonesia, the control centre of this network is located abroad.
“Based on the findings of the investigators, it was discovered that the operational control centre for all these websites is located overseas,” he said.
Comment Spam Modus Operandi
Adex explained that this exposure began following reports from the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) regarding the prevalence of gambling-related comment spam on social media in June 2026.
“The team then conducted investigations and cyber patrols, discovering gambling-related comment spam on websites GARAM26, SOR54, and RAWIT14 that directed users to the PUSATJP68 website,” said Adex.
Furthermore, in July 2026, investigators discovered similar spam intensity from sites PARIS52, HANTAM01, and MANIS36, which directed users to the JARIBOS site. These sites offered various types of gambling, ranging from slots and casinos to sports betting.
“Based on field investigations by investigators, it was found that the control and operational centre for all these websites is located abroad,” he revealed.