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Indonesian Raid Highlights the Criminal Economy of Chinese Online Scams in Southeast Asia

by Cobus van Staden
Some of the 88 Chinese nationals arrested in Indonesia on suspicion of being involved in cross-border telecom and online romance scams. Image: STR / AFP

Indonesian police arrested 88 Chinese citizens on suspicion of being involved in cross-border internet scams following a tip-off from Chinese authorities.

They are accused of running so-called romance scams, where they establish long-term online relationships with netizens in China in order to convince them to transfer money and other assets. The group (which includes five women) was reportedly operating from a shopfront close to the border with Singapore.

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