Inp.polri.go.id - Denpasar.  The Bali Regional Police’s Cyber Crime Directorate is investigating the involvement of  foreigners in an international online fraud syndicate operating under the guise of love scams in Denpasar.

“Initial findings suggest the operators were controlled remotely by those overseas, and we are pursuing further leads on foreigners’ involvement,” said Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya during a press briefing in Denpasar, Wednesday (11/6/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com.

Raids at five rental locations uncovered 38 Indonesian suspects working as broadcasters targeting victims—primarily U.S. citizens—via fake Telegram accounts. The suspects used stolen female identities and lured victims to phishing links that collected personal data.

Evidence points to the operation’s central command based in Cambodia. Bali Police are coordinating with the Indonesian National Police’s International Relations Division and Interpol to trace the transnational network.

The suspects were reportedly promised high salaries for each successful scam, suggesting a strong economic motive behind the operation.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)