I Put A Spell On You
Kenneth Yeung casts an evil eye on love spell scammers. It’s that time of the year again when the lifeblood...
scams in the city
Welcome Back Scammers, It’s Like You Never Left
As Indonesia begins reopening its doors to foreign tourists, we can expect an increase in the number of foreign scammers....
King Con Convicted Again, Gets No Prison Time
Remember Dimas Kanjeng, the murderous conman who pretended he could create money out of thin air? He was convicted of...
Setting the Crooked Record Straight
Some foreigners are involved in hypnotism scams in Indonesia, but the media should not be too hasty to blame Singaporeans....
Old Singapore Dollars for New Rupiah
A gang of scammers is targeting elderly people in Jakarta by offering Singapore dollars at an exchange rate that’s too...
Jember Friendship Ambassador Scammed by Foreigners
I once asked a long-time Australian expatriate why he had made Indonesia his home for over 40 years. Was it...
Hatching Hoaxes
Indonesia made international tabloid headlines a few weeks ago when it was reported that a teenage boy from South Sulawesi...
My Uncle the Police Chief and Other Lies
Imagine you’re choosing a career. Would you cough up Rp300 million (US$25,400) for a job with a starting salary of...
How to Get Poor Fast
One of the most popular ways to get rich in Indonesia is through politics. There are endless possibilities for self-enrichment...
Manufacturing Hatred
Punishing those who propagate radical hate-speech is not enough. Their ultimate paymasters must be named and brought to justice. President...
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...
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...
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...
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...