Bareskrim Polri Arrest 2 Chinese Foreigners Syndicate Fraud SMS Phishing Mode

The Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police arrested two foreign nationals (WNA) from China, with the initials XY and YXC. Both are international cyber fraud syndicates that use the mode of spreading SMS phishing by utilizing BTS fake technology.

"Bareskrim Polri uncovered an international cyber crime syndicate that utilizes BTS fake technology to illegally distribute phishing SMS," said Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Komjen Wahyu Widada, to reporters, Monday, March 24.

The two Chinese foreigners were arrested when the Directorate of Cyber Crime, Bareskrim Polri held an operation held in the SCBD area, South Jakarta. Both were arrested while driving around the location.

The disclosure of the case began with a report from a private bank regarding the rise of suspicious SMS received by hundreds of customers. From the report, it was followed up until the facts were found if there were eight victims.

The victim clicked on the phishing link in the SMS so that he suffered a loss of up to Rp289 million. From the results of the deepening, the total recorded losses have reached Rp473 million from 12 victims.

A series of investigations and investigations were carried out. Until then arrested XY on March 18 and YXC on March 20.

"The perpetrator used a BTS fake device to intercept the original BTS 4G signal and lowered it to 2G, then sent an SMS blast to a mobile device in the vicinity. Because this fake signal is stronger, the victim's cellphone automatically receives a message containing a fake link that resembles the bank's official website," he said.

From the results of the examination, both of them were not the masterminds of the crime. Because, both of them only act as field operators, with the task of traveling in crowded areas so that fake signals reach more cellphones.

They were just told to turn around, all systems were arranged from the center. Even anyone can do it, because they don't need special technical expertise," he explained.

In addition, based on the examination of suspect XY, it is known that he only entered Indonesia in February 2025 and was promised a salary of Rp. 22.5 million per month. Meanwhile, the suspect YXC has been in and out of Indonesia since 2021 with a tourist visa, and is part of a Telegram group called Pangkalan Station

Currently, development will be carried out to reveal the main actors suspected of controlling this operation from abroad. Collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Digital, Immigration, and if necessary, Interpol, will be carried out to trace the international network behind this crime.

The two suspects who were arrested were charged with Article 48 in conjunction with Article 32 and/or Article 50 in conjunction with Article 34 and/or Article 51 in conjunction with Article 35, Law Number 1 of 2024, concerning the second amendment, to Law Number 11 of 2008, concerning Information and Electronic Transactions.

Article 50 in conjunction with Article 22 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 36 of 1999 in conjunction with Article 3, Article 4, and Article 5, Law Number 8 of 2010, concerning the prevention and eradication of the crime of money laundering, fiber Article 55 of the Criminal Code.

"With the threat of a maximum sentence of up to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp. 12 billion," said Wahyu.