Rp 1 Trillion Online Gambling Ring Uncovered Using Comment Spam Tactics
The Cyber Crime Directorate (Dittipidsiber) of the Indonesian National Police (Bareskrim Polri) has dismantled an international online gambling network with transaction values reaching Rp 1.03 trillion. The syndicate employed a method of spamming comments on social media to redirect users to gambling websites.
Brigadier General Adex Yudisante of the Cyber Crime Directorate stated that the gambling network operated in Indonesia and several other countries. The network operated online gambling sites including 1XBET, AJ8KEREN, and EMPIRE88.
“These online gambling websites operate both nationally and internationally,” said Brigadier General Adex during a press conference at the Bareskrim Polri Building, South Jakarta, on Thursday (3/9/2026).
The syndicate utilised payment service companies in Indonesia to manage player deposits.
“The estimated profit based on transaction facts from January to 2026 recorded transactions amounting to Rp 1,037,790,052,498. This is equivalent to approximately Rp 260 billion per month, or roughly Rp 8.6 billion per day,” he stated.
Comment Spam Method
Adex explained that the exposure of the network began following reports from the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) regarding the prevalence of gambling-related comment spam on social media in June 2026.
“The team subsequently conducted investigations and cyber patrols, discovering gambling-related comment spam featuring websites GARAM26, SOR54, and RAWIT14 that directed users to the PUSATJP68 website,” said Adex.
In July 2026, investigators discovered similar spam intensity from sites such as PARIS52, HANTAM01, and MANIS36, which directed users to the JARIBOS site. These websites offered various forms of gambling, ranging from slots and casinos to sports betting.
“Based on field investigations by investigators, it was discovered that the control and operational centres for all these websites are located abroad,” revealed Adex.
Five Suspects Identified
Police have named five individuals as suspects in the case. The suspects used a method of establishing a fictitious company named PT Ultra Payment Terpercaya (PT UPT) to facilitate fund collection.
The identities and roles of the suspects are as follows:
APU was arrested in Semarang (10 July 2026). He acted as a liaison and sought a fictitious director for the company.
MAY was arrested in Semarang (15 July 2026). He acted as the Director of PT UPT (a fictitious director) to collect deposits.
R was arrested in South Tangerang (13 July 2026). He was responsible for ordering the search for a fictitious director and opening bank accounts.
GG was arrested in East Jakarta (13 July 2026). He was responsible for creating the legal documentation for PT UPT.
TS was arrested in South Tangerang (20 July 2026). He was responsible for managing financial transactions from the fictitious company.
Investigators are also hunting for FP, who is currently on the most wanted list (DPO). FP is suspected of ordering the other suspects and controlling transaction operations.
“The role of the fugitive FP was to instruct suspects R, GG, and S with their respective tasks as explained above, and to facilitate the operational flow of online gambling transactions,” he added.
Fund Flows Frozen
Bareskrim Polri has also frozen the network’s fund flows. Total seized assets amount to tens of billions of rupiah.
“Bareskrim Polri successfully froze funds held by five payment service providers, including PT KPG, PT HST, PT UPB, PT BPR, and PT K, with a total value of Rp 51,991,693,314,” explained Adex.
Investigators also seized eight mobile phones, 17 bank tokens, savings books, ATM cards, and bundles of bank cheques. Adex stated that the authorities have formally requested the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) to take down all the implicated websites.
“We have officially submitted a request for access disconnection or take-down to Kominfo for all these sites so they are no longer accessible to the public,” he emphasised.
The suspects face charges under Article 26 (1) and/or Article 82 and/or Article 85 of Law Number 3 of 2011 concerning Criminal Acts of Fund Transfers, and/or Article 607 of Law Number 1 of 2023 (the Criminal Code), with a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.
Overseas Control Centre
Despite operating in Indonesia, the control centre of the gambling network is located abroad. This was confirmed after investigators conducted a deep-dive investigation into the network.
“Based on the findings of the investigators’ in-depth study, it was discovered that the operational control centre for all these websites is located abroad,” he concluded.