OJK-UNODC Boosts Cooperation to Combat Online Scams in Southeast Asia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Task Force for the Eradication of Illegal Financial Activities (PASTI) are strengthening regional cooperation to combat increasingly complex, organized, and transnational online scams.

The strengthening of cooperation was carried out thru the Regional Expert Group Meeting on Online Scams titled Strengthening Financial Intelligence, AML/CFT Regulation, and Law Enforcement Cooperation in Southeast Asia, held in Jakarta on June 29-30, 2026. The forum was attended by financial sector regulators, law enforcement agencies, central banks, financial intelligence units, international organizations, as well as representatives from Indonesia and 12 partner countries.

The Head of the Executive Board for the Supervision of Financial Services Business Actors, Education, and Consumer Protection at OJK, Dicky Kartikoyono, stated that the development of digitalization in financial services indeed promotes financial inclusion and transaction efficiency. However, on the other hand, this condition is also exploited by criminals to carry out various forms of digital fraud that are now increasingly related to money laundering offenses.

"Online scams can no longer be viewed as standalone crimes. Digital fraud is now increasingly connected to illegal financial activities and money laundering offenses, so preventing it requires a quick, integrated, and financial intelligence-based response," Dicky said in the opening of the forum, Monday, June 29, 2026.

He explained that various modes such as investment scams, phishing, impersonation, social engineering, account hijacking, job recruitment fraud, and the misuse of money mule accounts are increasingly spreading thru the digital financial ecosystem. As a result, funds from criminal activities can move across platforms and countries in just a matter of minutes, making it difficult to track assets or recover victims' funds.

UNODC representative Zoelda Anderton stated that addressing online scams requires stronger cross-sector and cross-country cooperation. According to her, this crime cannot be addressed by just one authority or one sector.

"There is no single jurisdiction or sector that can handle online scams alone. However, by sharing experiences, strengthening professional networks, and building practical cross-border cooperation, we can collectively and constructively narrow the operational space of criminal networks targeting Southeast Asia," she stated.

Thru this forum, the OJK, UNODC, PASTI Task Force, and regional partners strengthen cooperation in information exchange, financial intelligence development, harmonization of AML/CFT policies, cross-border law enforcement, and recovery of crime proceeds. The outcome of the meeting is expected to serve as a foundation for strengthening community protection while maintaining the integrity and stability of the financial system in the Southeast Asian region.