The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has highlighted the phenomenon of digital scams, which is no longer merely a matter of material loss for the public. Furthermore, the rise of increasingly sophisticated cybercrime methods is seen as capable of eroding public trust, which is the most crucial foundation of the digital financial services ecosystem in Indonesia.
Head of the OJK Board of Commissioners, Friderica Widyasari Dewi, revealed that digital technology is a two-sided coin. On one hand, digitalization drives massive financial inclusion, but on the other hand, perpetrators exploit it to carry out cross-border actions. Modus operandi are becoming increasingly complex, involving the use of 'money mule' accounts to virtual assets to evade authority tracking.
Data from the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC) up to June 2026 recorded scam reports reaching more than 608,000 cases. Although swift action has successfully blocked over 557,000 accounts and returned victims' funds approaching IDR 200 billion, the challenge of handling crimes that cross jurisdictions remains immense.
Facing these challenges, OJK stressed that handling this issue can no longer rely solely on law enforcement. A 'public-private partnership' strategy is required, involving close collaboration between regulators, the financial industry, and technology providers to accelerate financial intelligence exchange and response to constantly evolving threats.
In addition to strengthening international coordination, OJK also reminded the public to remain the front line in protecting personal data. Financial service users are urged to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information such as PINs and OTPs, and to always verify product legality through official OJK channels to minimize the risk of fraud.
