Timeline of Immigration's Capture of 16 Foreign Nationals in "Romance Scammers": It Began with Intelligence Information
JAKARTA - The arrest of 16 foreign nationals suspected of carrying out romance scams, also known as love scamming, began with intelligence information. Here is the timeline!
The Directorate General of Immigration arrested 16 foreign nationals suspected of practising fake romance scams in Sukabumi, West Java, on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
The 16 foreign nationals consisted of 12 from China, one from Taiwan, and three from Malaysia.
Director of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement, Yuldi Yusman, stated that the case stemmed from initial intelligence information on 29 March 2026 regarding the presence of a group of foreign nationals with suspicious activities in the area.
Yuldi said that based on initial examinations, they were suspected of misusing residence permits and indicated to be conducting scam activities using the love scamming method targeting foreign victims, particularly from the United States (US) and Mexico.
“Immigration Sukabumi then conducted covert surveillance and profiling from 30 March to mid-April 2026, and gathered evidence in the form of photo and video documentation indicating suspected immigration violations,” Yuldi said at the Immigration office in Jakarta on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
The foreigners began packing their belongings and preparing to leave the location.
He said the team moved quickly and managed to secure one foreign national at the site along with several electronic evidence items.
“Subsequently, through searches in the accommodation area to around the beach, officers managed to secure the other 15 who had scattered in several locations, bringing the total to 16 foreign nationals secured,” he stated.
“Based on examinations of the electronic devices, patterns of activity were found pointing to love scamming practices, namely scams with emotional approaches via social media, which were then directed towards fictitious investments such as cryptocurrency and forex trading,” he added.
Furthermore, Yuldi said that they would coordinate with the embassies of the foreign nationals’ home countries for the deportation process.