Bali Cyber Scam
Bali Cyber Scam – Police have confirmed that they have uncovered, arrested, and detained 38 people in connection with an organized cybercrime gang in towns across the island.
The scam, referred to as the Love Scam, or the Love Scam Network, has been found to be a type of catfishing scheme whereby cyber criminals based in Bali operate online using fake profiles of women to extort and lure money out of victims who believe they are in a romantic relationship.
The network has been found to be operating in Indonesia, Cambodia, and the USA.
More details about the raids and arrests were shared in a press conference hosted by Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya, who was accompanied by the Director of Cyber Polda Bali, Kombes Pol Ranefli Dian Candra.
Adityajaya told reporters, “The investigation of this case began on June 9th at 1 a.m. in one of the houses on Nusa Kambangan Street. After confirming that there was illegal activity, at 9 a.m., [the property] was ambushed.”
Adityajaya continued “Nine people were secured at crime scene two. Crime scene three was secured by six people. Crime scene four was secured by eight people. Crime scene five was secured by six people. In addition to securing 38 suspects, officers also confiscated 82 units of cellphones of various brands and 47 units of computer devices that were used to commit crimes.”
The network is believed to be controlled by an individual who is believed to be in Cambodia, and known only by their initials VV.
Police Chief Adityajaya told reporters “These suspects have been operating since November 2023. They are in charge of searching for personal data of US foreigners via personal chat and fake links. They admitted that they were recruited with a job offer as a telemarketing, information from friend to friend.”
The cyber scammers were encouraged into their roles with the promises of a salary of USD 200 per month and a USD 1 commission for every viable data point they gathered from a potential victim. Each cyber scammer was paid in cryptocurrency.
Police Chief Adityajaya further explained, “From the results of the temporary examination, the operators were controlled by someone who was abroad so that further investigations continued to be carried out to uncover the involvement of foreign citizens in this case.”
The 38 individuals who have been arrested now face up to 12 years in prison if found guilty. They have each been charged with Article 35 of Article 51 paragraph (1) of Law Number 11 of 2008 as amended to Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions Jo Article 55 of the Criminal Code.
Speaking at the press conference the Director of Cyber Polda Bali Kombes Pol Ranefli Dian Candra added “These Cambodian leaders recruit and train other operators. Although they are different offices, they are all one network. This network is connected with three countries, namely Cambodia as the center, America, and Indonesia.”
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While Bali Police have successfully arrested 38 individuals in connection with the Love Scam, the organized crime group is just one of many such groups on the internet who are operating similar schemes. All internet users are advised to regularly check in with the latest advice around online safety and scam alerts.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner explains Catfishing is a cruel and embarrassing trick, but there are some things you can do to prevent it or stop the harm from getting worse.
eSafety added, “Look out for people who seem ‘too good to be true’ and other warning signs – like their online profile doesn’t really match the way they chat or act, they have a low friend count on social media or they want to get sexual very quickly.”
Another telltale move of online scammers is to move the conversation from one app to another quickly, as this can help reveal to the scammer the phone number, location, and other valuable data points as well as help to create a deeper sense of connection and familiarity with the potential victim.
Demand For Private Bali Villas Rises
As Demand For Private Bali Villas Rises Savvy Tourists Are Checking Out Hotel Deals
As leaders in Bali are cracking down on the number of illegally operating tourist villas, there are a number of reasons why savvy tourists are going against the grain and returning to staying in top hotels across the island. Over the last few years, there has been a surge in demand for private luxury vacation villas in Bali. While villas offer guests privacy and a sense of home away from home, there are some downsides to this kind of accommodation, too.
With more tourists then ever separated from the islands incredible culture and it’s welcoming communities, there is something that hotels will always be able to offer that private villas can’t; genuine connection.
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Indonesian Immigration Issues Clarification Over New Bali Visa
Indonesia’s top immigration official has issued a clarification over new visa changes that will merge several stay permit categories.
The move comes as the Indonesian Immigration seeks to remove any grey areas in visa policies that could allow foreigners to engage in illegal activity.
In a statement issued on social media last week, Indonesia Immigration confirmed that it will be merging visa indexes 133-110. The statement explained “Indonesia’s updated visa classifications make it easier than ever to choose the right visa for your needs.
Whether you’re traveling for tourism, business, medical treatment, or government visits, the process is now more straightforward.”
Adding “This simplification aims to enhance efficacy in the visa application process. By merging similar categories, [reducing] complexity and offers a more streamlined expense for applicants.”
The Directorate General of Immigration for Indonesia, Yuldi Yusman, has now issued clarifying statements about the most recent round of immigration optimization policies.
Yusman told reporters “One of the important breakthroughs is the issuance of C7C index visas, which is a visit visa for art, cultural activities, and skills in fields other than music. This visa allows foreign citizens (WNA) to show their skills in Indonesia, for example, magic shows, meeting fans, to cooking demonstrations by professional chefs on television.”
He also revealed that there is a series of new visa indexes that will enable more foreign investors to invest in the development of the Nusantara Capital City in Kalimantan. The new visa index, E28F will be specifically for investment in the new Indonesian capital, and the E28G visa index will be available for foreign investors who are to stay in Indonesia as representatives of a patent company establishing a branch in Indonesia.
Yusman explained “In addition, this policy significantly simplifies the work visa index, from the previous 31 types to only six types. Visas for foreign expert workers with corporate guarantors which originally consisted of 20 indices (E23B-E23W) are now combined in the E23 index.”
He also revealed that there is a series of new visa indexes that will enable more foreign investors to invest in the development of the Nusantara Capital City in Kalimantan. The new visa index, E28F will be specifically for investment in the new Indonesian capital, and the E28G visa index will be available for foreign investors who are to stay in Indonesia as representatives of a patent company establishing a branch in Indonesia.
Yusman explained “In addition, this policy significantly simplifies the work visa index, from the previous 31 types to only six types. Visas for foreign expert workers with corporate guarantors which originally consisted of 20 indices (E23B-E23W) are now combined in the E23 index.”
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Speaking separately the Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto, told reporters “With this new policy, we want to ensure that the Indonesian immigration service is able to answer global needs as well as provide convenience for the international community who want to do legal activities in Indonesia.”
This is just the latest in a series of changes and upgrades happening at Indonesian Immigration. In recent weeks tourists have been informed of a major change to the way in which the visa on arrival can be extended. The eVoA and VoA are the most appropriate visas for almost all international holidaymakers to Bali.
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Bali In High Demand From European Tourists
Latest travel data shows that Indonesia is the second most in-demand destination for European tourists traveling to Asia right now.
Indonesia is a huge, diverse region for travel, though the vast majority of international tourists from Europe will visit during their trip to the country.
New data from online travel platform Agoda shows that Indonesia is the second most in-demand travel destination for European tourists heading to Asia. Indonesia narrowly misses out on the top spot to Thailand.
The top five most in-demand destinations are Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam respectively. Vietnam is featured in Agoda’s top five most popular destinations for European tourists for the first time.
Agoda has revealed that data was collected from accommodation search results for the summer vacation period, between July to August 2025, the peak of the European holiday season.
Speaking to reporters the Senior Country Director of Agoda for Indonesia, Gede Gunawan, explained “Asia remains the main choice for summer vacations for Europeans, and Indonesia continues to be a destination in demand thanks to its rich culture, nature, and hospitality.”
In terms of European tourists and holidaymakers seeking travel experiences in Asia, according to Agoda’s search results tourists from the UK are the most active, followed by trailers from France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. In terms of demand for travel to Indonesia specifically, tourists from France are leading the charge, followed by Dutch travelers, British and Spanish.
Data shows that Bali remains one of the most sought-after places for European tourists to travel. Bangkok and Koh Samui followed in second and third positions for the top resort areas.
Koh Samui’s entry into the top three—shifting Tokyo out of the top ranking spots is believed to be influenced by the popularity of the HBO series The White Lotus which is set on the island.
In terms of demand for travel in Indonesia, aside from Bali, search results show increasing interest in travel to Lombok and Jakarta.
With ever-improving flight connections to Bali and Indonesia more broadly, it is easier than ever for tourists from anywhere in the world to organize a vacation to the region.
One of the great appeals for European tourists visiting Asia is the ease of country-hopping even on a short vacation.
Over the course of a two-week annual vacation, European tourists traveling long haul to Asia are more likely to create a multi-stop itinerary, either ticking off multiple areas in one country or even ticking off many countries in one go.
For example, it’s super easy for holidaymakers to create a stress-free two-week itinerary that ticks off Bangkok, Denpasar, and Ho Chi Minh City.
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Vietnam Airlines has just celebrated the launch of its new flight service that connects travelers directly between Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City.
Similarly, it’s super easy for tourists to organize and enjoy a multi-province vacation in Indonesia. Starting in Bali, tourists can catch a fast boat to the Gili Islands, and travel onward to Lombok and even Labuan Bajo.
Heading west from Bali holidaymakers can explore all that West Bali has to offer before hopping on a ferry to East Java, exploring Mount Ijen and Banyuwangi before traveling deeper into East Java, including highlights like Mount Bromo and Jakarta. For the intrepid, it’s also incredibly easy to travel between Bali and Sumatra.
Up in the tropical rainforests of North Sumatra, the Leuser Ecosystem is the last place on earth where orangutans, tigers, elephants, and rhinos coexist in the wild.
Tourists can stop by destinations like Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan to embark on jungle treks to see the last of Indonesia’s truly wild landscapes.
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All above published articles are provided by “The Bali Sun“
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