OJK Reveals Ramadan Fraud Modus Operandi, One Wrong Click Drains Bank Accounts

Jakarta — CNBC Indonesia. Ahead of Lebaran, financial crime and fraud are rampant. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) urges the public to remain vigilant against the diverse forms of fraud that could affect all layers of society. Acting Chair and simultaneously Vice Chair of the OJK Board of Commissioners Friderica Widyasari Dewi noted that in the first 10 days of the Ramadan period there have been 13,100 reports of fraud and 22,900 accounts reported. ‘And this shows an increase both before the fasting month and in the first 10 days of Ramadan 2025,’ she said at a press conference at Bank Indonesia (BI) in Jakarta, on Tuesday (3 March 2026). The woman known as Kiki explained that fraudulent schemes disguised as foreign companies are still prevalent. With convincing words and sentences, the public is often swayed by the perpetrators. ‘OJK urges greater caution against such fraud, as crimes are increasingly digital; the trend in crime is digital,’ she said. Unlike the old days, fraud can now be carried out without face-to-face contact with victims. Suddenly funds in the account are drained when people are inattentive and easily believe a scam. ‘If in the past theft required effort, now with digital means people do not need to meet; we can drain accounts digitally,’ she noted. Accordingly, OJK is strengthening the public complaint system through the IASC portal. This effort can anticipate various scams and fraud. As for Ramadan fraud modus operandi, online shopping fraud is typically observed. ‘Many housewives need things such as clothes, accessories; that’s a common trend, so we anticipate online shopping and buying fraud,’ she stated. Then, she continued, Lebaran promo transactions. Scammers can determine where we intend to buy goods. ‘It turns out when we click that link,’ she added. Additionally, there is also a conventional fraud modus operandi outside OJK supervision, namely vehicle trading. ‘For example, the money handling involves used car fraud. People going home for the holidays to appear to own motorcycles, cars, etc., and they report transfers within a short time; we can block them,’ she said. (fsd/fsd)