Love Scam Case Based in Tangerang, Dozens of Foreigners Arrested

Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman (center) shows evidence during a press conference at the Directorate General of Immigration building in Kuningan, South Jakarta, Monday, January 19, 2021 (ANTARA/Walda Marison)

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Immigration and Correction has dismantled a fraud and extortion syndicate in the form of love scams carried out by Foreign Nationals (WNA) from China.

Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman said the case was uncovered when officers conducted an investigation at an elite housing area in Tangerang in early January 2026.

"We held an immigration surveillance operation in various areas of Tangerang from January 8 to January 16, 2026," said Yuldi at a press conference at the Directorate General of Immigration building, Kuningan, South Jakarta, Monday, quoted by Antara.

Yuldi said the arrest began when his officers investigated a house in the Perumahan Gading Serpong area after receiving a report that there was suspicious activity there.

Yuldi continued, based on the report, the officers monitored the house until they finally carried out a search on Thursday, January 8.

"At that time, the team secured 14 foreign nationals consisting of 13 citizens of the People's Republic of China and 1 citizen of Vietnam," said Yuldi.

Furthermore, on January 10-16, the team again arrested 7 foreigners and 4 foreigners from China in two different places.

After being investigated, continued Yuldi, the foreigners carried out a fraudulent modus operandi with the majority of the victims being South Korean citizens living outside Indonesia.

The perpetrators, said Yuldi, contacted the victim through the Telegram application to start building communication with the victim. After the communication was established, the perpetrators then contacted the victim by video call or video call with the intention of wanting to show body parts or video call sex (VCS).

While the VCS was taking place, the perpetrator immediately recorded the victim. The video was then used as a tool to blackmail the victim into handing over a certain amount of money to the perpetrators.

"Currently, our team has secured the perpetrators and evidence in the form of hundreds of mobile phones, dozens of laptops, and PCs and monitors. Then the Wi-Fi network, and network installations to help the perpetrators carry out their actions," said Yuldi.

Yuldi continued, until now there is no evidence of victims from Indonesian citizens (WNI). However, his party still takes action because the foreign nationals have violated the residence permit provisions and violated immigration regulations.

Yuldi also ensured that until now the foreigners were undergoing detention and intensive examination. They are threatened with severe sanctions related to violations of residence permits and

indications of cybercrime.

Yuldi also ensured that officers were still continuing to pursue other members of the network who were suspected of still hiding in Indonesia.