"As of February 2025, there have been 6,800 cases of Indonesian citizens involved in online scams since 2020. Most likely the number will continue to increase," the ministry's director of protection of Indonesian citizens and legal entities, Judha Nugraha, confirmed in Tangerang.
He said that thousands of cases have been recorded in 10 countries, with the majority registered in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar. Most online scam cases involving Indonesian citizens are indicated to be human trafficking crimes.
Therefore, he urged the public to not be tempted by jobs promising high salaries without special qualifications or leave without a work visa or a work contract, which can result in problems.
For conflicted Indonesian migrant workers who are not victims of human trafficking, he assured the Indonesian embassies abroad will provide assistance based on their cases.
In this case, the Indonesian government is trying to repatriate 270 Indonesian citizens who are suspected of being involved as workers or perpetrators of online gambling in Myanmar.
"We are trying to repatriate them from Myawaddy, Myanmar. Those who are involved in online gambling are not only victims but also perpetrators," he emphasized.
According to Nugraha, some have allegedly perpetrated online gambling and human trafficking practices in the Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar for 2.5 years.
"Some of them were offered work since they were still in Indonesia. At first, they were offered to work in Thailand, then they were taken to Myawaddy via Maiso," he informed.
In the near future, his party is planning to evacuate 92 Indonesian citizens suspected of being victims of human trafficking from Myawaddy, Myanmar.
"There are 92 Indonesian citizens in the process of being repatriated to Indonesia," he informed.
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Translator: Azmi Syamsul, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
