Jakarta. Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) has blocked 702,833 accounts suspected of involvement in financial scams since the launch of the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC) in November 2024, as authorities step up efforts to combat online fraud and illegal financial activities.

According to recently released OJK data, authorities have frozen Rp 825.2 billion ($45.4 million) in funds linked to suspected fraudulent transactions. Of that amount, Rp 207.16 billion ($11.4 million), or approximately 25.1%, has been returned to victims.

The anti-scam center has also received and verified information concerning 1,372,483 accounts suspected of involvement in fraudulent activities.

OJK said the handling of fraud reports involves close coordination with financial institutions and relevant government agencies.

The regulator emphasized that prompt reporting by victims is essential to preventing stolen funds from being transferred to other accounts and improving the chances of recovering their money.

The figures highlight the scale of financial fraud facing Indonesia, with more than 1.37 million suspicious accounts identified since the anti-scam center began operations.

Nearly 1,500 Illegal Financial Operators Shut Down
Separately, Indonesia's Task Force for the Eradication of Illegal Financial Activities reported that it had identified and shut down 1,489 illegal financial entities and activities between January and September 2026.

These comprised 1,199 illegal online lending operators, 250 illegal investment entities, 38 unlicensed pawnshop operators and two other illegal financial activities.

The task force found that illegal lending schemes were being promoted through unauthorized websites and mobile applications, social media platforms, and instant messaging services.

Some operators attracted borrowers by promising quick and easy loan disbursement while concealing interest rates and additional charges.

Other reported practices included misuse of personal information and abusive debt collection methods that could harm borrowers.

Fraudsters were also found to be impersonating legitimate financial institutions by using their names, logos, or corporate identities to gain the trust of potential victims.

OJK urged the public to remain vigilant against illegal pawnshop operators, warning that such businesses could impose excessive interest charges, use unclear contractual terms, and fail to provide adequate protection for customers' pledged assets.

The regulator reiterated the importance of using licensed financial service providers and promptly reporting suspected fraudulent transactions to improve the likelihood of recovering stolen funds.

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