Indonesia Loses $29.7M to Cybercrime in 3 Months

Between November 2024 and January 2025, Indonesia suffered financial losses of 476 billion rupiah (US$29.7 million) due to cybercrime, according to Deputy Minister Nezar Patria of the Ministry of Communication and Digital.

Digital fraud remains a major threat, with 1.2 million reports of online scams filed by mid-2025. The ministry is working with the police’s cybercrime division to address complaints and track down both domestic and international perpetrators of spam and scam operations. Nezar stressed the need for stronger regulations, improved digital literacy, and AI-based detection technologies to counter the escalating threat. The losses in this short period mark a sharp acceleration in cybercrime compared to previous years.

Key Highlights

• Indonesia lost 476B rupiah to cybercrime in 3 months
• 1.2 million online scam reports filed by mid-2025
• AI tools and stronger laws pushed to fight digital fraud

Data from March 2024 already showed a 70 percent surge in phishing attacks, a 40 percent rise in DDoS attacks, and a 50 percent jump in ransomware incidents compared to 2023.

With 221 million internet users, Indonesia is a prime target for cybercriminals. Although the Personal Data Protection Law was enacted in 2022, its enforcement has been hampered by the absence of implementing regulations and an independent data protection authority. Full enforcement was planned for October 2024, but these gaps continue to leave vulnerabilities—especially concerning as nearly a third of the country’s 270 million citizens are under 18.

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The government’s push for AI-driven early detection reflects the urgency to strengthen defenses beyond regulatory measures. Many organizations, still adapting to compliance rules, risk inadequate protection against the increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes behind these massive losses.