OJK Warns of Rising Scam Modes, Including Watching Ads and Chinese Dramas

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) continues to strengthen efforts to eradicate illegal financial activities. Throughout the period from 1 January to 20 May 2026, OJK received 17,105 public complaints related to various illegal entities, ranging from illegal online loans to fraudulent investments.

Dicky Kartikoyono, Chief Executive of Supervision of Financial Service Business Actors’ Conduct, Education, and Consumer Protection at OJK, stated that the majority of complaints received were related to illegal online loans. “Of the total, 14,380 complaints concerned illegal online loans, 2,601 complaints were about illegal investments, and 124 complaints related to illegal pawnbroking,” he said during a virtual press conference, quoted on Sunday (26/7/2026).

He revealed that the OJK, through the PASTI Task Force, has followed up on these complaints by blocking 951 illegal online lending entities, 8 illegal investment offers, and 1 other illegal financial activity across various websites and applications that have the potential to harm the public.

During the month of May 2026, the PASTI Task Force halted business activities employing various modes. Fraud was also perpetrated by foreign parties suspected of using impersonation and offering initial public offering (IPO) share investments.

Furthermore, the public is urged to be cautious of other fraudulent schemes, such as those involving tasks to watch Chinese drama films (dracin) and the purchase of film copyrights to obtain profits. Other modes include impersonation and schemes involving the creation of e-commerce accounts and fund deposits to earn commissions.

Additional scams involve impersonation and offers to complete tasks such as watching advertisements, as well as fictitious project financing. There is also a fraudulent mode involving crypto investment through copy trading schemes.

In the context of enforcing consumer protection regulations, OJK has issued written warnings and/or administrative sanctions, comprising 48 written warnings to 44 financial service business actors (PUJK), 5 written instructions to 5 PUJK, and 17 fines to 15 PUJK. During the same period, regarding the market conduct of PUJK, OJK imposed 17 administrative sanctions in the form of written warnings and 11 administrative sanctions in the form of fines.