January 22, 2026 | 07:26 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Directorate of Women, Children, and Human Trafficking (PPA-PPO) of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) revealed that 699 Indonesian citizens were victims of human trafficking in an online scam industry operating in Cambodia. The victims were deceived by job offers promising high salaries.
"In 2025, 699 Indonesian citizens were recorded as victims of online scams in Cambodia. This demonstrates the significant scale of the crime," said Brigadier General Nurul Azizah, Director of PPA-PPO at Bareskrim, during a discussion at the Bareskrim Building on Tuesday, January 21, 2026.
Nurul said the victims received job offers with salaries of IDR 15-20 million per month. The recruiters also offered accommodation. The perpetrators typically claimed to employ victims as customer service representatives, telemarketers, or even crypto operators.
According to Nurul, one of the biggest challenges in combating human trafficking in Cambodia is the disorganized nature of the network. "Decentralized networks make it difficult to apprehend the core perpetrators," he said. Investigators also often encounter jurisdictional boundaries between countries.
Furthermore, victims are at risk of criminalization due to the construction of cases that implicate them in online fraudulent activities. However, he said, the National Police will avoid criminalizing victims who commit violations under duress.
Read: 375 Indonesians Report to Embassy in Cambodia After Leaving Scam Syndicate
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Indonesia's OJK Hands Over Rp161 Billion in Recovered Scam Funds to Victims
11 jam lalu
Indonesia's OJK handed over Rp161 billion in recovered fraud funds to scam victims.
375 Indonesians Report to Embassy in Cambodia After Leaving Scam Syndicate
2 hari lalu
As many as 375 Indonesians reported themselves to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after being released from an online scam syndicate following a local authority raid.
Cambodia Extradites Suspected Crypto Scam Boss to China
13 hari lalu
Chen Zhi is accused of running scam centers that used forced labor to target victims worldwide.
Indonesians Record Rp8.2 Trillion in Losses from Scams, Says OJK
42 hari lalu
OJK records Rp 8 trillion in losses from thousands of complaints due to financial transaction scams.
56 Indonesians Rescued from Myanmar Scam Rings Repatriated
44 hari lalu
The Indonesian Embassy in Yangon announced the repatriation of 56 Indonesians involved in online scam and gambling operations in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
Southeast Asia Grows Wary of Crypto Mining
53 hari lalu
As illegal crypto mining and scam compounds proliferate across Southeast Asia, governments are discovering "cheap" power for bitcoin can mean losses.
British Ambassador Announces Plans to Combat Scam Centers in ASEAN
22 November 2025
The UK government is committed to supporting ASEAN in addressing online scams and the proliferation of digital criminal activities in the region.
Immigration to Deport 27 Chinese Nationals Involved in Scam
18 November 2025
According to Immigration authorities, the perpetrators utilized a sophisticated setup, installing a backdrop resembling a Chinese police office.
APEC Summit: Indonesia's Prabowo Urges Cooperation in Cross-Border Crimes Crackdown
31 Oktober 2025
Prabowo stated that smuggling, money laundering, human trafficking, and narcotics can disrupt the regional economic stability.
India to Repatriate 500 Citizens from Thailand After Myanmar Scam Hub Raid
29 Oktober 2025
India will repatriate 500 of its citizens from Thailand following a raid by the Myanmar military on a notorious scam hub within its territory.
