OJK: Online Scams Increasingly Linked to Illegal Finance and Money Laundering

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Chief Executive of Financial Services Business Conduct Supervision, Education, and Consumer Protection at the Financial Services Authority (OJK), Dicky Kartikoyono, stated that online scams are now increasingly connected to illegal financial activities and money laundering crimes. Therefore, he argued, online scams can no longer be viewed as standalone crimes. Preventing online scams requires a rapid, integrated response based on financial intelligence. Dicky explained that the fast, easy, and open characteristics of digital finance also make it attractive to criminals. Various modes such as fake investment offers, impersonation, phishing, social engineering, account takeover, job scams, e-commerce fraud, and the misuse of money mule accounts can spread very quickly and involve multiple platforms. Given the importance of cross-border eradication of online scams, OJK together with the Task Force for the Eradication of Illegal Financial Activities (Satgas PASTI) is strengthening regional cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This strengthened cooperation was pursued through the Regional Expert Group Meeting on Online Scams titled ‘Strengthening Financial Intelligence, AML/CFT Regulation, and Law Enforcement Cooperation in Southeast Asia’ held on 29-30 June 2026 in Jakarta. The forum brought together financial sector regulators, financial intelligence units, law enforcement agencies, central banks, prosecutors, financial service institutions, anti-scam centres, international organisations, and strategic partners from across Southeast Asia and partner jurisdictions.