Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Cyber Crime Directorate at the Indonesian National Police (INP)’s Criminal Investigation Agency has placed the mastermind behind the SMS phishing scam using fake base transceiver station (BTS) on its most wanted list.

“We are searching for the leader behind this operation,” said the INP’s Head of Criminal Investigation Agency, Commissioner General Wahyu Widada, during a press conference on Monday (24/3/2025).

Two Chinese citizens, identified as XY and YCX, have been arrested. Each was directed by different handlers— suspects XL and JGX, with the latter suspected of being a trusted aide to the ringleader. The arrested suspects merely drove fake BTS units around crowded areas to distribute phishing messages.

The police uncovered that the scheme intercepted mobile transmissions, downgrading 4G signals to 2G to enable mass fraudulent SMS blasting. Victims were tricked into clicking fake links and entering sensitive information like OTP and CVV codes.

The INP is expanding its probe into the larger network behind the operation. The suspects face multiple charges under the Law on Information and Electronic Transaction, the Law on Telecommunications, the Law on Anti-Money Laundering, and Article 55 of the Criminal Code.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)