Chinese diplomatic missions in Indonesia have warned that telecom fraud cases targeting Chinese nationals are increasing, with some victims reporting heavy financial losses, as suspected scam operators shift from Cambodia and other countries into Indonesia.
In a notice issued on May 27th, China’s consulate in Surabaya said its missions in Indonesia had recently received multiple requests for help from Chinese citizens affected by telecom fraud. It said there were signs that ‘more people previously involved in telecom fraud in Cambodia and other countries are moving to Indonesia to commit crimes.’
Indonesian authorities have dismantled several telecom fraud sites, according to the notice.
The Chinese missions said scams currently reported in Indonesia include impersonation of government officials, currency exchange fraud, visa-related fraud, ‘pig butchering’ schemes, and fake trading or investment scams.
Chinese nationals in the country were advised not to disclose personal information to strangers, transfer money lightly, or click on unknown links. Those who have been defrauded were urged to report the case to police and seek help from Chinese diplomatic missions.
The warning comes as Indonesia increasingly emerges as a possible spillover destination for transnational online scam and illegal gambling networks in Southeast Asia, amid stronger enforcement in established scam hubs such as Cambodia and Myanmar.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has previously warned that enforcement pressure on scam compounds in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines has pushed some operations into other parts of the region. In Indonesia, recent cases have involved commercial buildings, apartments and hotels rather than large, purpose-built compounds.
Indonesian authorities have arrested hundreds of foreign nationals in Jakarta, Batam, Bali and Surabaya in recent weeks over alleged online gambling, investment fraud and scam operations.
