Indonesia's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) is intensifying its efforts to combat the burgeoning threat of crypto-related crime, a landscape increasingly dominated by sophisticated scams, deepfakes, and illicit activities exploiting Decentralized Finance (DeFi). The agency is witnessing a rise in romance scams, phishing attacks, and deepfake-powered fraud, often leveraging AI to create convincing fake identities and transaction proofs.

Bareskrim's strategy involves a multi-pronged approach. They are enhancing their investigative capabilities through advanced training and the adoption of cutting-edge blockchain analytics tools. Crucially, they are fostering robust public-private partnerships, collaborating with cryptocurrency exchanges and international law enforcement agencies to trace illicit funds and identify perpetrators. Despite the pseudonymous nature of blockchain, Bareskrim leverages on-chain data to pinpoint "off-ramps" where crypto assets are converted into traditional currency, revealing real-world identities. This collaborative approach aims to safeguard Indonesia's digital financial space from evolving criminal tactics.

Scams, Deepfakes, and DeFi: How Indonesia’s Bareskrim Cracks Down on Crypto-Related Crime