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Indonesia (ID)

Bali and beyond — Indonesia is a vast tropical archipelago of 17,000+ islands offering affordable living, extraordinary cultural diversity, world-class nature, and a rapidly growing digital economy that attracts digital nomads, retirees, and professionals from around the globe.

Capital: Jakarta
Region: Asia
Language: Indonesian
Currency: IDR (Rp)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 28)
Emergency: 112
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Indonesia.

Indonesia has a wide range of scams targeting both tourists and long-term expats. Bali has the highest concentration of tourist-facing fraud given its visitor volume; Jakarta and other major cities see more financial, employment, and digital fraud. The ITE Law (Information and Electronic Transactions Law) enables prosecution of online fraud, but enforcement is inconsistent. OJK (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan) actively blacklists illegal financial products — always check ojk.go.id before investing. From 2017 through Q1 2025, illegal investment schemes caused cumulative losses exceeding IDR 142 trillion (approximately USD 8.7 billion). For cybercrime, report via the official portal patrolisiber.id. Emergency: 110 (National Police) or 112 (unified emergency).

WhatsApp "Wrong Number" Pig-Butchering Investment Scam

critical

Scammer sends a friendly "wrong number" WhatsApp message, builds a relationship over days or weeks, then introduces a fake high-return cryptocurrency or forex platform. The victim's account dashboard shows impressive paper gains; withdrawals require ever-larger "tax" or "fee" deposits. When the victim stops paying, access is cut off and all funds are lost. Indonesia is both a major origin country for these scam operations and a significant victim country.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited WhatsApp or Telegram message from an unknown number claiming to be a misdialled contact
  • - New contact is unusually friendly, attractive, and quickly interested in your life
  • - Conversation pivots within days to a "low-risk, high-return" investment platform you can try with a small amount
  • - Platform is not on OJK's register of licensed investment products (waspadainvestasi.ojk.go.id)
  • - Initial "investment" shows impressive returns immediately, designed to encourage larger deposits
  • - Any withdrawal attempt triggers a demand for additional fees or taxes before funds can be released
What to do: Cease contact immediately and do not send any further money. Report to OJK (157 or waspadainvestasi.ojk.go.id), Bareskrim Polri cybercrime unit (patrolisiber.id), and the cybercrime task force Satgas PASTI (ojk.go.id). If funds were transferred via Indonesian banking, contact your bank immediately to flag the transaction.

Illegal Predatory Lending Apps (Pinjol Ilegal)

critical

Hundreds of unregistered P2P lending apps (pinjaman online ilegal) offer instant loans then use illegal collection methods: mass-messaging all contacts in the borrower's phonebook with humiliating messages, threatening violence, and sharing personal photos. Interest rates reach 3–4% per day. OJK blocked 611 illegal online lenders in 2025 alone.

How to spot it
  • - App not listed on OJK's official register of licensed P2P lenders (ojk.go.id)
  • - Loan approved in minutes with no proper documentation
  • - App demands full access to phone contacts, camera, and storage upon installation
  • - Interest rate not clearly disclosed, or disclosed in daily not annual terms
  • - No physical office address or customer service number
What to do: Never use any lending app without first verifying OJK licence at ojk.go.id. Report illegal apps to OJK (157 or konsumen@ojk.go.id), Bareskrim Polri via patrolisiber.id, or BSSN (bssn.go.id). If you are being harassed by an illegal collector, you are also a victim — file a report with the police (110 or 112).

Robot Trading / Ponzi Investment Scheme (Investasi Bodong)

critical

High-return investment schemes based on automated "robot trading", crypto pyramid platforms, or gold investments circulate via WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram, promising 10–30% monthly returns. OJK has shut down multiple robot trading entities including PT Evolution Perkasa Group and PT DNA Pro Akademi. Total illegal investment losses through Q1 2025 exceeded IDR 142 trillion.

How to spot it
  • - Guaranteed monthly returns above 5% — this is a universal red flag
  • - Recruitment-based reward structure (pyramid or MLM component)
  • - Platform or product not listed on OJK's investment alert list
  • - Payments requested in cryptocurrency to avoid regulatory tracking
  • - Celebrity endorsement — frequently fake, generated by AI, or paid without the celebrity's knowledge
What to do: Check the OJK investment alert list at waspadainvestasi.ojk.go.id before putting any money in. Only invest through OJK-licensed securities companies. Report to OJK (157) or Satgas PASTI (ojk.go.id). File a cybercrime report at patrolisiber.id.

Property Investment Fraud (Bali Villa Schemes)

critical

Fraudulent Bali property investment schemes promise guaranteed rental returns of 8–12% per year on villa purchases. Common fraud types include: fake land certificates (SHM/SHGBs), double-selling the same property to multiple buyers, nominee arrangements that give the foreign investor no legal title, and leasehold agreements designed to be unenforceable.

How to spot it
  • - Any written guarantee of rental returns — no legitimate investment can guarantee returns
  • - Developer cannot produce a valid SHM (Hak Milik) certificate or HGB under their name, verifiable at BPN
  • - No independent licensed notary (PPAT) involved — seller wants to use their own notary
  • - Claim that foreigners can hold "freehold" Hak Milik title — legally impossible in Indonesia
  • - High-pressure sales tactics, time-limited offers, and group viewings without individual time to review
What to do: Always use an independent PPAT notary and property lawyer of your own choosing for due diligence (never the developer's). Verify land certificates at the local BPN (Badan Pertanahan Nasional) office. Foreigners cannot own Hak Milik — any claim otherwise is fraud. Report to Bareskrim Polri via patrolisiber.id.

Visa / KITAS / Work Permit "Fixer" Fraud

critical

Unlicensed individuals operating through expat social media groups claim to process visas, KITAS (Temporary Stay Permits), or work permits for below-market fees. They disappear with the money or deliver fraudulent documents that fail immigration checks, leaving the victim facing deportation.

How to spot it
  • - No verifiable physical office address or company registration (AHU Online)
  • - Unable to provide references from previous clients with verifiable contact details
  • - Charges significantly below market rate for official immigration services
  • - Requests upfront payment via personal bank transfer rather than company account
  • - Claims to have "special connections" at immigration offices
What to do: Use only established, licensed immigration consultants with a verifiable track record (Emerhub, Cekindo, Imigran.id). Verify company registration at AHU Online (ahu.go.id). For direct applications, use imigrasi.go.id official portal only.

Drug Offer Setup / Entrapment (Bali / Jakarta)

critical

In Bali and Jakarta nightlife areas, individuals offer drugs to tourists and expats, then alert police for a bribe — or work with corrupt officers who make arrests on fabricated possession charges. Indonesia has mandatory death penalty provisions for drug trafficking and prison terms of 4–15+ years for possession.

How to spot it
  • - Any unsolicited offer of drugs in or near clubs, bars, or tourist areas
  • - Strangers who are unusually eager to make contact and offer substances in public
  • - Anyone who persists after a clear refusal
What to do: Refuse all drug offers without exception. Do not negotiate with police without legal counsel present. Contact your home-country embassy immediately if arrested — consular access is your legal right. The consequences of any drug charge in Indonesia are catastrophically serious and cannot be understated.

Short-Change at Money Changers

warning

Unlicensed money changers in Bali and Jakarta tourist areas use sleight-of-hand to short-count large denomination notes (Rp50,000 and Rp100,000), or mix counterfeit notes into the returned cash during fast counting.

How to spot it
  • - Exchanger counts notes very quickly and distractingly, fanning them rather than counting individually
  • - Rate offered is significantly above the Bank Indonesia reference rate
  • - No Bank Indonesia authorisation certificate (Surat Izin Usaha) displayed
  • - Operates from a street stall or market rather than a proper exchange office
What to do: Count every note yourself before leaving the counter. Use only authorised money changers with a Bank Indonesia licence certificate. Alternatively use a Wise or Revolut card for better rates without fraud risk.

ATM Skimming / BCA, Mandiri, BNI Card Cloning

warning

Card skimming devices and pinhole cameras are installed on ATMs — particularly standalone ATMs in tourist areas and less-supervised locations — to capture card data and PIN for later cloning. SIM swap attacks targeting Indonesian mobile numbers to intercept SMS OTP codes are also rising.

How to spot it
  • - ATM card slot feels loose, has an overlay, or looks slightly different from others at the same bank
  • - Pinhole camera visible near the keypad or on the ATM fascia
  • - ATM in an isolated or poorly lit location outside bank hours
  • - SMS verification code arrives on your phone when you did not initiate any transaction
What to do: Use ATMs inside bank branches or malls. Cover the keypad with your free hand when entering your PIN. Enable real-time SMS/email notifications on all transactions. Report suspicious ATM hardware to the bank branch immediately. If you suspect SIM swap, call your mobile operator (Telkomsel: 188, Indosat: 185, XL: 817) immediately then call your bank.

Online Marketplace Fraud (Tokopedia / Shopee / Bukalapak)

warning

Fake sellers on Tokopedia, Shopee, Bukalapak, and TikTok Shop list goods — especially electronics, branded items, and high-demand products — that are either never shipped or arrive as obvious fakes. Also common: "re-listing" scams where a fraudster poses as an individual seller on Facebook Marketplace or WhatsApp with below-price offers.

How to spot it
  • - Price significantly below all other listings for the same product
  • - Seller asks you to transact outside the platform to "avoid fees"
  • - Seller has very low ratings or a newly created account
  • - Product photos are stock images with no personalised proof-of-stock photos
What to do: Always keep purchases within the official platform checkout — never transfer money directly to a seller's personal account. Use platforms with buyer protection and escrow. If defrauded, file a complaint via the platform and report to OJK (157 for financial aspects) or Bareskrim via patrolisiber.id.

GoJek / Grab Fare Manipulation and Non-App Taxi Overcharging

warning

Non-metered airport and tourist-area taxis charge arbitrary fares to foreigners — 5–10 times the legitimate rate. Some drivers claim apps are unavailable. Separately, some GoJek/Grab drivers manipulate orders to inflate fares or attempt to collect cash above the app price.

How to spot it
  • - Driver refuses to use app booking, claims GoJek/Grab is "unavailable" or "too far"
  • - Driver approaches you before you hail or book, not the other way around
  • - Quotes a fare without an app booking confirmation showing the price
  • - Requests cash above the amount shown in the app
What to do: Always book via GoJek (GoCar) or Grab app — the fare is fixed before pickup. At airports use the official ride-app zones. For any non-app taxi, agree the fare in writing (message or note) before entering the vehicle. Report fare manipulation to the GoJek or Grab in-app support.

Fake Spiritual Healer / Dukun Scam

info

Individuals posing as Balinese spiritual healers (dukun) target recently divorced, grieving, or lonely expats and tourists with promises of magic, love potions, and spiritual blessing. Fees escalate into millions of rupiah for "ceremonies". More recently operating via Instagram and dating apps rather than in-person approaches.

How to spot it
  • - Approached unsolicited — online or in person — by someone offering healing or to "detect spiritual problems"
  • - Claims to detect black magic or negative energy in your life within moments of meeting
  • - Rapidly escalates demands for money for ceremonies, offerings, or materials
  • - Has no verifiable community reputation outside of social media
What to do: Avoid engaging. Legitimate Balinese traditional healers (balian) are known community figures with established local reputations — they do not solicit via social media. Report to local police (110) if financial fraud has occurred.

Reporting

Where to report: Bareskrim Polri Cybercrime Unit: patrolisiber.id (online report portal) or dial 110 (National Police) / 112 (emergency). OJK Financial Consumer Protection: 157, konsumen@ojk.go.id, or kontak157.ojk.go.id. OJK Investment Alert Task Force / Satgas PASTI: waspadainvestasi.ojk.go.id. BSSN (National Cyber and Crypto Agency): bssn.go.id. Kominfo internet content fraud: aduankonten.id.

Consumer helpline: OJK 157 (Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00, financial scams); Polri 110 (police / crime); emergency 112; Kominfo 159 (internet fraud); BPKN consumer protection: bpkn.go.id.