Police in Bali have uncovered a sprawling online romance scam operation run from five separate sites across Denpasar, arresting 38 people allegedly involved in a scheme that targeted foreign victims—primarily U.S. citizens—by posing as women online.
The bust, led by the Cyber Crime Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) of the Bali Regional Police and headed by Commissioner Ranefli Dian Candra, revealed a coordinated operation in which suspects used stolen or fabricated female profiles to lure victims into sharing personal information. That data was then funneled through encrypted messaging platforms and monetized overseas.
“The perpetrators obtained victims’ data and continued the communication through a Telegram link based in Cambodia,” said Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya at a press conference on Wednesday. He was joined by police spokesmen Commissioner Arisandy and Commissioner Ketut Agus Kusmayadi.
Five Raids, Dozens of Arrests
The investigation began early Monday morning, 9 June, after cybercrime officers received a tip about suspicious activity at a house on Jalan Nusa Kambangan, Denpasar. Upon raiding the property, police found nine people operating 10 computers allegedly used for scamming activities.
Authorities say those arrested were acting under the direction of a man identified only by the initials “VV,” who is believed to be operating out of Cambodia. According to police, the suspects were tasked with harvesting personal data from U.S. nationals through fake romantic interactions in exchange for a fee of US$1 per profile.
“These individuals admitted their role in collecting personal data from U.S. citizens via private chats,” said Daniel. The group had reportedly been active since November 2023.
Following the initial raid, police uncovered four more locations in Denpasar: Jalan Nangka Utara, Jalan Gustiwa III, Jalan Irawan Gang 2 Ubung Kaja, and Jalan Swamandala III. There, they arrested another 29 people and seized 47 computers and 82 mobile phones used in the alleged scam.
In total, police detained 31 men and 7 women.
A Breakdown of the Crime Scene
Authorities provided the following breakdown of equipment seized across the five locations:
- First location: 9 suspects, 10 computers, 19 mobile phones
- Second: 9 suspects, 10 computers, 16 phones
- Third: 6 suspects, 9 computers, 15 phones
- Fourth: 8 suspects, 8 computers, 22 phones
- Fifth: 6 suspects, 10 computers, 10 phones
The suspects now face charges under Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law, including Article 35 in conjunction with Article 51(1) of Law No. 1/2024, and Article 55 of the Criminal Code. If convicted, they face up to 12 years in prison and fines of up to Rp 12 billion.
International Footprint, Local Consequences
Though based in Bali, the operation was allegedly part of a larger, transnational scam network with links to Cambodia. The use of social engineering tactics—especially “love scamming”—has been on the rise globally, with Southeast Asia emerging as a hotspot for cybercrime syndicates.
Authorities emphasized the need for vigilance, particularly among users of dating apps and social media.
“We urge the public to remain alert to various cyber fraud methods,” Daniel said. “If you encounter suspicious activity that may be illegal, report it to us. We will follow up.”
The case remains under investigation.
