Sextortion Surges in Indonesia as New Online Criminal Tactic Drains Bank Accounts

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid has spotlighted the surge in digital fraud cases, which continues to present a major challenge in Indonesia. She noted that the government has received numerous public complaints ranging from sexually based extortion (sextortion) to the proliferation of online gambling. “We have recorded a significant increase in digital fraud. We have also received many complaints regarding, for example, sexually based extortion or sextortion, and online gambling continues to be a key issue,” Meutya stated during a press conference following the MoU with the National Police Chief at the Komdigi office on Monday (12/4/2026). According to Meutya, based on data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), online gambling activities had previously experienced a significant decline of around 50%. “Although it was reduced by up to 50% according to PPATK,” she added. With this MoU in place, Meutya hopes that coordination between Komdigi and law enforcement authorities will become even more solid in curbing digital crimes. The government targets a more significant reduction in cases over the next year. “Hopefully, with this MoU, it can be further suppressed in the coming year,” she concluded.