Advance-Fee Scams in Indonesia
Prepayment fraud targeting Indonesians with lottery wins, foreign inheritance, and government subsidy notifications requiring upfront fees to release promised funds.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Advance-fee fraud in Indonesia exploits the aspirational appeal of sudden windfalls — lottery prizes, foreign inheritances, or government subsidy entitlements — delivered through WhatsApp, SMS, and email. The scam adapts to Indonesian cultural and regulatory context, using familiar branding from Kominfo, Bank Indonesia, or Direktorat Jenderal Pajak to appear credible.
Some variants are timed to coincide with periods when real government direct-payment programs are active — such as Bansos (bantuan sosial) distribution periods — creating convincing confusion about eligibility.
How this scam works on Indonesia
A WhatsApp message claims the recipient has won a lottery from a Kominfo-linked program or is eligible for an unclaimed government Bansos payment. To release the funds, a 'verification fee' or 'administrative tax' of Rp[amount] must be transferred via bank to a specified account.
For foreign inheritance variants, an 'international lawyer' contacts the victim — sometimes in formal-looking email — claiming they are the sole beneficiary of a deceased foreign national's estate held in a European or Middle Eastern bank. Multiple processing fees accumulate before the promised transfer.
Some schemes impersonate BPJS Kesehatan or BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (Indonesian social insurance bodies), claiming uncollected insurance benefits requiring advance verification payments.
Common red flags
- Unexpected notification of lottery prize for a lottery you never entered
- Government benefit notification via personal WhatsApp rather than official channels
- Any advance fee required before prize or benefit can be released
- Chain of escalating fees — each payment generates a new demand
- BPJS or government agency branding used in messages arriving from personal numbers
How to protect yourself
- Government Bansos and BPJS benefits in Indonesia never require advance payment
- Verify any government benefit eligibility through the official Cek Bansos app or dtks.kemensos.go.id
- No legitimate lottery requires you to pay fees to claim a prize
- Report suspicious messages claiming to be from BPJS to BPJS directly
- Share unexpected windfall notifications with a trusted family member before taking action
How to report it
- Report to OJK Satgas Waspada Investasi at ojk.go.id
- File with Bareskrim at patrolisiber.id
- Report government program impersonation to Kominfo at aduankonten.id
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify if I genuinely qualify for Indonesian government Bansos assistance?
Check eligibility through the official government integrated social welfare data system (DTKS) at dtks.kemensos.go.id, or use the Cek Bansos mobile app. Local village or kelurahan offices can also confirm eligibility. No fee is ever required to confirm or receive Bansos.