Online Dating Fraud, 7 Foreigners From Nigeria Arrested In Bali

The Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Bali Province, Pramella Yunidar Pasaribu, showed a number of evidences of the arrest of foreigners who were cybercriminals in Denpasar, Friday (2/8/2024) (ANTARA).

DENPASAR - Denpasar Immigration Office, Bali arrested seven foreign nationals (WNA) from Nigeria who exceeded the residence permit or overstay and were suspected of being involved in cyber crimes in the form of love scamming or online romance fraud.

"This is still suspected of being involved in cyber crimes, especially those who exceed the residence permit," said Head of the Bali Provincial Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office Pramella Yunidar Pasaribu in Denpasar, Friday, August 2.

He detailed that Nigerian foreigners who entered Indonesia in the fourth quarter of 2023, namely the initials AVC, CHF which exceeded the 492-day stay permit, TFH for 441 days, and PUE for 370 days.

Then Nigerian foreigners who have a limited residence permit are investors with the initials OFA, CCE and SC with a validity period of up to 2025.

Of the seven people, three of them previously tried to escape by jumping from the third floor when they were arrested on Tuesday at around 07.00 WITA at a hotel on Jalan Imam Bonjol Denpasar.

As a result, two people suffered injuries to the leg and one person suffered serious injuries and was treated at a hospital in Denpasar.

Meanwhile, Head of the Denpasar Immigration Office, Ridha Sah Putra, added that his party also found two Nigerian passports but the owner was not found at the scene.

So the officers put the two foreigners on the wanted list (DPO) and collaborated with the Bali Police to arrest the two people who were thought to have fled first.

Immigration Intelligence and Enforcement Officer (Inteljakim) Denpasar Immigration is investigating three people who have limited stay permits as investors, especially their activities while in Bali.

They were previously unable to show immigration documents when officers conducted an inspection.

Meanwhile, those who exceeded the residence permit were suspected of being involved in online romance fraud after officers checked the laptop containing data that led to the cyber crime.

The case was revealed after Denpasar Immigration received a complaint from the public.

Meanwhile, the arrests were made due to the synergy of a number of security forces including the Denpasar Immigration, Bali Police, the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (Bais), the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) assisted by the community.

The seven foreigners from the west coast of Africa are currently being temporarily detained in the detention room of the Denpasar Immigration Office awaiting further investigation and deportation efforts.