The government is preparing a number of strategies to reduce the number of financial crimes that are increasingly prevalent. These include closing thousands of online gambling sites, blocking dormant accounts, and receiving public reports of suspicious activity.

This was stated by OJK Deputy Commissioner for Financial Services Business Conduct Supervision and Consumer Protection (PEPK), Rizal Ramadhani, at the Katadata Policy Dialogue: National Strategy to Fight Financial Crime, at JS Luwansa Hotel, Jakarta, Tuesday (5/8).

Rizal said, the Illegal Financial Activities Eradication Task Force (Satgas Pasti) together with the Indonesia Anti Scam Center (IASC) continue to monitor and record various losses suffered by the public due to the rise of digital fraud.

As of the end of June 2025, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) noted that the total public losses had reached Rp 4.1 trillion. Of this amount, the victim's funds that were successfully blocked reached IDR 348.3 billion.

According to Rizal, victims come from a variety of professional backgrounds. "Perpetrators of financial crimes are now increasingly shrewd, utilizing the names of public figures or well-known figures to build trust before finally draining the victim's account," he said.

Rizal explained that the mode of crime used continues to evolve. No longer relying on telephone and SMS as before, the perpetrators now actively operate through various digital platforms - such as WhatsApp, Twitter, and other instant messaging applications.

Therefore, the Task Force must continue to strengthen coordination with relevant ministries, associations and institutions. "Satan also synergizes, so we must also be more solid in collaboration," he said.

"Satan also synergizes, so we also have to be more solid in collaboration," Rizal said.

Furthermore, Rizal asserted that perpetrators have long taken advantage of technological advancements before authorities realized the threat they pose. Based on IASC data, digital fraud trends have shown a significant spike in recent years.

As a mitigation measure, OJK has asked banks to block more than 25,900 accounts that are indicated to be involved in online gambling and fraud practices.

Blocking accounts suppresses gambling transactions

The blocking of dormant accounts was forced because financial criminals often use these accounts, among others, to accommodate online gambling funds.

"In 2024, we suspect that online gambling turnover could reach Rp 981 trillion. However, thanks to the hard work of banks, regulators, and the Task Force, we managed to reduce it to Rp 359 trillion," said PPATK Head Ivan Yustiavandana at the same event.

This decline, claims PPATK, is fairly successful. Based on PPATK data in the first semester of 2025, the circulation of online gambling funds only reached IDR 99.6 trillion; far below last year's figure. Ivan emphasized, if government intervention is not carried out, the circulation of online gambling funds at the end of 2025 is predicted to touch Rp 1.1 quadrillion.

"With the current intervention pattern, we are optimistic that the turnover of online gambling funds can be suppressed even further, even to minus," he said.

Technology-based strategy

Of course, the strategy to suppress financial crime is not only blocking dormant accounts. Teguh Arifiyadi, Director of Certification Supervision and Electronic Transactions of the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) explained that the government faces challenges in eradicating online gambling sites and various modes that continue to evolve from online gambling players. 

"In the past, online gambling sites only used ordinary domains, for example slot.com. Now they continue to shift, starting from using IP based, changing keywords, to using an image base to avoid detection," he said.

To overcome this, Komdigi must always be one step ahead by conducting cyber patrols working 24 hours to block these sites. In fact, it has to impersonate gambling players to track the accounts used.

Komdigi even had to pose as a gambling player to track down the accounts used.

"We had to play along to get their initial deposit accounts. We then send these accounts to OJK and PPATK to be blocked. To date, we have identified more than 76,000 accounts related to online gambling," Teguh said.

He also emphasized the importance of public participation in helping the government suppress online gambling transactions. Komdigi revealed that the number of reports from the public regarding online gambling content has increased dramatically, from 110,000 reports in 2017 to 100,000-200,000 reports per month. This shows that public awareness is getting higher.

Economic and social impacts

Meanwhile, National Economic Council (DEN) member Firman Hidayat at the same event explained the negative impact of online gambling on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He explained that public funds used for online gambling should be productive consumption or investment.

"When these funds are used for online gambling, let alone 70% of them run abroad, themultiplier effect for the domestic economy will be lost. This makes our GDP go down," said Firman.

Initial studies conducted by DEN showed that the impact of online gambling in 2024 alone reduced economic growth by 0.3%. This means that if last year's economic growth was at 5%, it could have reached 5.3% if there was no online gambling.

Initial studies conducted by DEN show that the impact of online gambling in 2024 alone reduces economic growth by 0.3%.

In addition, online gambling also has serious social impacts. Executive Director of KataData Insights Center, Fakhridho Susrahardiansyah, shared the results of their independent research. "The data tells us that the impact of online gambling is massive and not only in the economic aspect. There is an invisible social impact," he said.

Fakhridho cited BPS data that shows divorce cases due to gambling are increasing. In addition, 75% of online gambling players also use drugs to maintain stamina.

Fakhridho added that the biggest impact of online gambling is felt by low-income people. "71% of the 9.8 million online gambling players are those with incomes below Rp 5 million," he said.

Although the government's intervention showed positive results, Teguh Arifiyadi reminded that blocking cannot be a permanent solution because the perpetrators continue to innovate. "As long as the players are still there, online gambling will not disappear. What we can do is improve digital and financial literacy in the community," he said.

Fakhridho echoed similar sentiments, noting the need for increased public education, strict law enforcement, and the adoption of technology to strengthen supervision. Fakhrido added that inter-agency collaboration and synergy from all stakeholders is the key to fighting this destructive financial crime.