One in Four Indonesians Fall Victim to Scams, OJK Blocks Rp674 Billion Through June 2026

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) reported that the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC) has received 608,000 fraud reports since its launch in November 2024 through 26 June 2026. OJK Board of Commissioners Chairperson Friderica Widyasari Dewi detailed that the centre has successfully blocked approximately 557,000 accounts, with total blocked funds reaching Rp674 billion, of which Rp200 billion has been returned to complainants. ‘I believe this is just the tip of the iceberg, because not everyone will report that they have become a victim of fraud,’ she said during an OJK seminar with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Central Jakarta on Monday. She noted that some people still tend to feel ashamed to report themselves as fraud victims. Kiki explained that fraud often exploits payment channels, accounts under other people’s names, sub-merchants, virtual assets, and cross-border networks. ‘These channels can conceal perpetrators, obscure the source of funds, and complicate the tracking of illegal financial transactions,’ she said. Evidence from regional findings shows that reports are often only made 24 hours after the fraud occurs, leaving a very short window to detect, block, and recover funds. Meanwhile, AI, deepfakes, and automation are making identity theft more credible and manipulation more convincing. Moreover, these risks are cross-border and cross-platform. ‘As I said, perpetrators, infrastructure, and fund flows can cross jurisdictions and platforms, especially with crypto assets, making coordination even more critical,’ Kiki stressed. At the same event, UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia Gita Sabharwal explained that scam networks operate across the East and Southeast Asian region, exploiting digital platforms, using sophisticated social engineering, and leveraging the complexities of modern financial systems. She cited UNODC research estimating that losses from online scams in East and Southeast Asia exceed US$37 billion, with Southeast Asia emerging as a hub for industrial-scale scam operations. ‘The impact is already being felt in Indonesia. One in four Indonesian consumers report having lost money to scams,’ she said. Sabharwal stated that the fight against scams begins with prevention, where banks, digital financial service providers, and fintech companies are uniquely positioned to act. She further emphasised the importance of collaboration, noting that financial crime thrives in the gaps between jurisdictions, mandates, and institutions. In response, ASEAN countries last year signed the Hanoi Convention on Cybercrime, creating the first global legal framework for cooperation against cybercrime. ASEAN has also identified online scams as an organised transnational security threat, calling for a comprehensive multi-stakeholder response. ‘Indonesia has shown leadership in building this collaborative approach. Tangible initiatives such as the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre and strengthened cooperation between government, law enforcement agencies, and the financial sector have been implemented,’ Sabharwal concluded.