Online Scams in Indonesia: Complete Guide 2026
Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) blocked over 600,000 fraudulent phone numbers and URLs in 2025. With over 200 million internet users, Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest digital economy — and its biggest target for online fraud. The rapid adoption of digital wallets (GoPay, OVO, DANA, ShopeePay), e-commerce platforms, and social media commerce creates expansive attack surfaces.
Digital Wallet and Payment Scams
GoPay, OVO, DANA, and ShopeePay are impersonated through fake customer service calls, phishing links, and social media accounts. Scammers call claiming to be from GoPay support, saying your account has been compromised, and requesting your OTP (one-time password) to "secure" it. Sharing your OTP gives the scammer full access.
"Selamat siang, ini dari tim keamanan GoPay. Akun Anda terdeteksi aktivitas mencurigakan. Untuk mengamankan saldo Anda, mohon sebutkan kode OTP yang baru dikirim ke nomor Anda." — (Good afternoon, this is from GoPay's security team. Suspicious activity has been detected on your account. To secure your balance, please provide the OTP code just sent to your number.) — Never share OTP codes with anyone.
E-commerce Fraud
Tokopedia, Shopee, Bukalapak, and Lazada face fraud from fake sellers, counterfeit products, and off-platform payment requests. Scammers create listings at impossibly low prices, collect payment, and never ship. Some direct buyers to communicate off-platform via WhatsApp, bypassing the marketplace's payment protection.
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Stay on the platform for all communication and payment. Use the marketplace's buyer protection features. Be suspicious of prices dramatically below market rate.
WhatsApp and Social Media Scams
With over 100 million WhatsApp users, Indonesia is a major target for WhatsApp-based fraud. Fake job offers, lottery wins, "undian berhadiah" (prize draws), and social media giveaway scams are endemic. Links in WhatsApp messages often lead to APK files (malicious Android apps) that steal banking credentials and personal data.
Online Loan (Pinjol) Scams
Illegal online lending apps (pinjaman online/pinjol) operate extensively in Indonesia. These apps access contacts, photos, and personal data, then use this information to harass and shame borrowers (and their contacts) when payments are late. The OJK (Financial Services Authority) has shut down thousands of illegal pinjol apps, but new ones appear constantly.
Reporting Scams in Indonesia
- Kominfo: aduankonten.id — report fraudulent content
- OJK: 157 or ojk.go.id — financial fraud
- Police (Bareskrim): patrolisiber.id — cybercrime reporting
- BRTI (Kominfo): Report spam and fraud calls/SMS
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