Indonesia Police Raid Luxury Home of Foreigners for Suspected Online Fraud Syndicate

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Twenty people, whose nationality was not known, were detained by the Indonesian police for involving in suspected international online fraud crimes at a luxury house in East Jakarta on Tuesday, April 4.

The police members forced their way into the two-story house on Selat Batam Street in Duren Sawit using a welding machine.

A resident in the neighborhood known as Eni, 33, said that she was shocked and confused by the discovery of dozens of individuals in the house. She had no idea that such many people were staying in the same luxurious home.

"A crowd immediately came to the house. We were confused because no one knew that the house was occupied by that many people," Eni said at the scene.

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She went on to say that the people had rented the luxurious house for the past two to three months. "They only rented for about two to three months and only two locals [Indonesian citizens] were seen. The two appeared to originate from the neighborhood," Eni said.

However, the two locals rarely interacted with other people in the area. During the nighttime, the house appeared dark, with only one light on the terrace turning on. The dim light made the building look empty.

Fraud syndicate

The raid of the luxury home was related to the arrest of 55 other foreigners by the Directorate of General Crimes (Dittipidum) of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim).

The 55 foreign nationals, who were arrested at three different locations, were involved in international telecommunication network fraud crimes.

"We confirm that on Tuesday, April 4 about 10:00 a.m. local time, we investigate and arrest [them] at three different locations," said Brigadier General Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, Director of General Crimes of Bareskrim on Wednesday, April 5.

Although they allegedly conducted their online fraud from Indonesia, the victims were mostly abroad.

The perpetrators used Mandarin in carrying out their fraudulent activities. The modus operandi of the perpetrators was to call the victims and pretend to be local police. They would then demand money from the victims.

"What the perpetrators did was similar to phone fraud, pretending to be police officers. Sometimes they would demand a ransom, and they would do such things," Djuhandani said.

Another modus operandi was selling electronic goods to the victims. However, after payments were made, the goods never be delivered.