Police Bust Bogus Bruneian Businessman Scam
Beware of helping friendly strangers wanting to use your bank account for business or charitable purposes, especially if they try...
The Root of All Evil
A travel agency has scammed millions of dollars from Muslims who wanted to visit Mecca. Victims are now clamouring for...
King Con Gets 18 Years for Murders
Notorious conman and cult leader Taat Pribadi, who gave himself the noble-sounding title of Dimas Kanjeng, has been sentenced to...
In the Name of the Fraudster
Indonesian media recently seized on the story of a gang that forged letters from President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo to request...
Fool’ Gold Fever
If you want to invest in gold, a 1 kilogram bar will set you back about US$40,000 at today’s prices...
Bandung Zoo Accuses Fundraiser of Fraud
Indonesian zoos do not enjoy a sterling reputation for animal care. When foreigners try to intervene, officials become upset –...
Don’t Show, Do Tell
Beware of sharing a nude selfie in Indonesia. You could be extorted or even criminalized. There’s an old internet joke...
Beware of the Men in Uniform
Posing as policemen and pilots, con men are able to steal women’s hearts and then their money. It is often...
Taking Leaf of Their Sanity
A conman has been arrested near Jakarta after fleecing at least Rp.1 billion (US$75,000) from people who believed his “religious...
Obtaining a Bank Account, Tax Number & BPJS-K
Living and working in Indonesia, there are always challenges in meeting the changing requirements of the bureaucracy. Some of these...
The Rise and Danger of Fake News
Fake news, a symptom of lazy journalism and deliberate mischief-making, is everywhere. Consequences can be fatal. Many moons ago, “fake...
Hoax Tourism Expo Scams Exhibitors
There’s a whole industry devoted to making money by exploiting corporate vanity through promotional activities, listings and awards. The ASEAN...
Elaborate Blackjack Scam Targets Unwary Expats
Tourists in Bali are still getting invited to houses and ensnared in card games in which they lose big-time. How...
German Expat and Indonesian Wife Jailed for Bali Resort Swindle
A German and his Indonesian wife convinced an Australian and his Indonesian wife to invest over US$700,000 in the expansion...
Papuans Tricked into Sending Kids to Fake Schools
On February 17, police arrested a woman for holding seven Papuan children, aged four to 13, at a house on...
Provocative Masturbation Book for Boys Pulled From Shelves
The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has demanded that a children?s book be pulled off shelves for allegedly encouraging boys...
Aura Explorers Abusing Girls
Is negative energy preventing you from achieving your goals or passing a test? Do you want to be more attractive...
Online Dating Deception
Love and lust, facilitated by dating apps, can make people blind to fraud. Indonesia’s dating scene has changed big time...
New Year, Old Cons
Despite repeated calls for a national ‘mental revolution’, Indonesia remains ripe for scams perpetrated by self-styled holy men claiming magical...
Dirty Money
When buying votes or buying sex, some people resort to using counterfeit cash. Results can be fatal. The precise amount...
The Old School Swindle
Police in Jakarta have busted a syndicate that tricked parents into believing their children had been involved in accidents, requiring...