Police Seize Safes and Liquids Used by Liberian Nationals to Create Black Dollars
Police have seized several pieces of evidence from two foreign nationals (WNA) from Liberia, initialled SDT and I, related to a counterfeit money fraud case using the black dollar or black dollar modus operandi. Police seized liquid used to make black dollars.
“There is one suitcase of liquid, which according to the Suspect is used as a means to deceive the victim, as the Suspect claims this can turn black dollar paper into genuine dollars,” said Head of the Public Relations Sub-Division of the Public Relations Division of Metro Jaya Police, Kompol Andaru Rahutomo, to reporters on Friday (27/3/2026).
In addition, police seized a safe, though its contents are not yet known. Currently, the evidence has been secured by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the West Jakarta Metro Police Resort.
“There are several suitcases secured containing the aforementioned fraud tools, as well as several safes also secured as fraud apparatus,” he explained.
Quoted from the official CBP website, black dollar or black dollar is described as the form of black money fraud paper resembling US currency in size and sometimes feeling similar when held. However, the black dollar will appear as black, blue, or white paper when checked under ultraviolet light.
In black money scams, the perpetrators usually fabricate stories about the money’s colour changing due to chemicals to avoid detection by Customs authorities. The perpetrators then fabricate stories about needing cash and offer the black dollars to victims at a discount.
The perpetrators will explain how the victim can ‘wash’ the paper money’s colour to reveal the actual US currency. The perpetrators usually mix genuine money with black money to convince the victim more. The black paper money is counterfeit money.
Target: South Korean National
Based on the victim’s report, the incident occurred from September to December 2025. However, the victim only realised they had been scammed on 8 March 2026, leading to a police report at the West Jakarta Metro Police Resort. Police revealed that the victim is also a foreign national from South Korea.
“The individuals were secured for committing fraud against another foreign national from South Korea using the black dollar modus operandi,” said Head of the Public Relations Sub-Division of the Public Relations Division of Metro Jaya Police, Kompol Andaru Rahutomo, to reporters on Friday (27/3).
Currently, both Liberian nationals have been designated as suspects. They are being held at the West Jakarta Metro Police Resort.
“This is still being calculated (the losses). Whether this continued, ongoing, over several stages, this is still being calculated by the West Jakarta Metro Police Resort,” he said.