August 22, 2025 | 02:54 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) will block access for perpetrators of digital transaction fraud or scams to all banking services. Eventually, scammers will be automatically unable to open an account or use banking services because they are already listed in the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre server, which the OJK owns.
In addition to blocking access to banking services, the OJK imposes sanctions that prevent scammers from registering for employment. Friderica Widyasari Dewi, the Executive Head of the Financial Services Business Players Behavior Supervision, Education, and Consumer Protection at OJK, explained that the sanctions are part of giving a deterrent effect to scammers.
According to her, scammers cause significant harm to banking consumers and digital finance in the country. The estimated loss is around Rp4.6 trillion from November 2024 to August 2025. "All accounts under the names of the perpetrators in all sectors will be blocked. In the future, they won't be able to register for employment. This will give a deterrent effect," Friderica said at the Dhanapala Ministry of Finance Auditorium, Friday, August 22, 2025.
Friderica mentioned that many countries have implemented similar measures to counter scam activities. She said that in developed countries, scammers cannot even use public transportation because their data has already been blocked. "This is good. We learn from other countries. They are completely blocked in terms of civil law. Perhaps in the future, we will get there," she said.
On the other hand, Friderica urged scam victims to report as soon as they are deceived. Victims can inform the financial institutions where they saved their money that scam activities have occurred in their accounts or digital wallets. Alternatively, they can complain about OJK's Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre channel.
She emphasized that the duration of reporting significantly affects the success in handling such incidents. This is because any money from the victim that is still in the perpetrator's account can be detected and blocked quickly. As a result, the victims can recover the money that was previously stolen from their accounts.
However, efforts to recover money due to scam activities are not easy. She explained that many banking customers are not aware that they have become victims of this fraud. "Once these victims become aware, it's already been a very long time, even up to several days, before realizing that they have been scammed. This is a current challenge and obstacle," she said.
Editor's Choice: OJK Readies Regulation for Dormant Bank Accounts Following Arbitrary Blocking
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
BRI Addresses Alleged Kidnapping and Murder of Branch Manager
19 jam lalu
Reports emerged that BRI's Branch Manager in Jakarta, with the initials MIP, was allegedly kidnapped and murdered.
Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Uncover ATM Card Swap Scam
1 hari lalu
The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police has arrested one of three members of a fraud syndicate using ATM card swap method
OJK Readies Regulation for Dormant Bank Accounts Following Arbitrary Blocking
1 hari lalu
OJK is preparing to regulate bank account management, including dormant accounts.
OJK Records Rp4.6 Trillion in Scam Losses in Less Than a Year
3 hari lalu
OJK's IASC handles 700-800 public scam reports daily, far exceeding figures in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
Russia Requires Switch to MAX, Dropping WhatsApp and Telegram
7 hari lalu
Technology experts suspect that the Russian government is using the MAX app to control the internet.
Illegal Online Loans Still Dominate Market with Rp260 Trillion in Circulation, Says AFPI
10 hari lalu
AFPI reveals that illegal online loans are dominating the market with a larger turnover compared to the total fund distribution from official peer-to-peer lending fintech industries.
5 Countries with the Most Google Users, is Indonesia Included?
11 hari lalu
A significant number of inhabitants of major countries depend on Google technology. The users of its browser and various applications reach in the billions.
Meta Blocks 6.8 Million WhatsApp Accounts Linked to Scammers
15 hari lalu
Meta noted that some of the most prolific and organized scams originate in Southeast Asia, with one major hub located in Cambodia.
No Rush Money Reports After Idle Account Blocks, Claims PPATK
16 hari lalu
PPATK explained that the banking and economic conditions in the country remain conducive.
OJK Says Online Lending Surges 25%, What's Driving the Growth?
16 hari lalu
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) announces the increase in outstanding loans distributed by online lenders by 25 percent. What are the causes?
