Jokowi Urges PPATK to Combat Rampant Online Scams

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo asked all ministries and institutions to adopt three strategies to combat online scams which are increasingly rampant. He opined that such a crime is recently becoming more massive, complicated, and complex.

First, he asked the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to be a vocal point and financial intelligence unit that is observant and able to move quickly. The agency is expected to have the capabilities and tools to deal with new schemes of money laundering and terrorism financing.

“Because [such a crime] has now crossed national borders and has become an international crime,” said the President at the 20th anniversary of the anti-money laundering and prevention of terrorism financing at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday, April 18.

Jokowi thus called for anticipatory measures as early as possible to prevent any attempt that could disrupt the integrity and stability of Indonesia's economic and financial system, as well as cybercrime and other activities that use advanced technology.

Secondly, Jokowi also asked ministries or state institutions to continue creating breakthroughs and digital transformations that adopt regulatory technology. 

PPATK was also encouraged to develop a new service platform and a real-time digital service center that is expected to serve the interest of stakeholders quickly and accurately.

This is also necessary to provide legal certainty to investors, both domestic and foreign. “As well as to build a stronger, more integrated, and sustainable Indonesian financial system,” Jokowi said.

The police in tandem with PPATK have been investigating a number of online scam cases under the scheme of online investment. There are six investment scam cases ranging from Binomo to the latest one, Millionaire Prime, with total losses of up to trillions of rupiah.

Read: Jakarta Police Arrest 10 Foreigners over Online Scam

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