Indonesian Police Bust Love Scam Syndicate Targeting 53 Women

Indonesian police have dismantled a sophisticated love scam syndicate operating out of Surabaya, arresting three individuals, including foreign nationals from Ghana and Ivory Coast. The group preyed on 53 Indonesian women over nearly 10 months, amassing an estimated 1.1 billion Rupiah (approximately $72,000 USD) in fraudulent gains.

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We secured several people and named three suspects because they were the ones actively involved in the fraud.

The syndicate meticulously crafted fake online personas, using stolen photos and details to pose as a wealthy Indonesian engineer working in the United States. Their targets were specifically women aged 45 to 60, chosen for their perceived susceptibility to emotional manipulation. The scammers built trust through constant communication, including text messages, calls, and video chats, before initiating the fraudulent gift scheme.

Once a romantic connection was established, a scammer would pretend to send expensive gifts like watches and jewelry. Another member of the group, posing as a customs or expedition official, would then contact the victim. This individual, identified as Lilik Nurhaidah, would demand transfer payments to release the "gift," with amounts ranging from 15 million to 100 million Rupiah. The "gifts" were entirely fictitious.

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The suspects deliberately targeted women aged 45 to 60 to align with the profile of the perpetrator who claimed to be a Haji and of older age, making it easier to build an emotional connection.

Authorities discovered the operation after investigating alleged immigration violations by foreign nationals in a Surabaya apartment. Electronic evidence seized at the scene led to the arrests. Investigations revealed that the syndicate, active since August 2025, had a clear profit-sharing structure, with the majority of funds flowing to the foreign nationals involved.

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The suspect Lilik asked the victims to transfer a sum of money as a ransom so that the goods could be released and sent. The amounts varied, starting from 15 million, 30 million, to 100 million Rupiah. In fact, the goods were fictitious or never existed.