inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The East Java Regional Police Cyber Criminal Investigation Directorate has dismantled a nationwide online car sales fraud network operating in Kediri, Batam, and Samarinda.
“A total of 11 suspects were arrested in three different locations, which are in Kediri, Batam, and Samarinda," explained the Director of Cyber Criminal Investigation Directorate, Senior Superintendent Bimo Ariyanto, on Monday (5/11/2026).
The case came to light after a victim from Taman District, Sidoarjo Regency, reported being the target of an online car sales fraud on February 15, 2026.
During the investigation, police revealed that a group in Kediri acted as a bank account provider for the proceeds. The perpetrators lured the people by offering a bonus of one liter of cooking oil to those who opened a new account and activated mobile banking services.
"The perpetrators, DS, RV, YD, and DM, were tasked with offering people to make accounts and activating their mobile banking, then offering them a bonus of one liter of cooking oil. The accounts were then handed over to the network above them," said Bimo.
Meanwhile, the Batam group, consisting of MJ, AN, and BD, sought out potential victims through marketplaces and social media by uploading photos of vehicles and details of stolen cars from other vehicle trading platforms at below-market prices.
When the victims were interested, communication was directed through private messages and a specific phone number controlled by the perpetrators.
The syndicate employed a triangular scheme, bringing together the original seller, the perpetrators, and the buyer without each other knowing their identities.
"The victims thought they were doing a normal transaction, but in reality, the payment was directed to a holding account belonging to the syndicate," he said.
The Samarinda group is suspected of being the main control center of the network. AF was said to be the mastermind, RN acted as a recruiter and liaison between the networks, SH managed the disbursement of funds, and WY was the final holding account manager.
According to Bimo, the suspects in Samarinda were repeat offenders in narcotics cases who had recently been released from prison.
During the raid, investigators confiscated two cars, a Kawasaki Ninja R motorcycle, two Bank Central Asia (BCA) checking accounts, seven BCA savings books, 30 cell phones, and several other assets suspected of being linked to money laundering.
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