Deepfake videos of Indonesian governors used in motorcycle scam
Indonesian police arrested three suspects in April 2025 for creating deepfake videos impersonating provincial governors to conduct an online motorcycle scam. The operation defrauded at least 100 victims across four provinces of approximately 87.6 million rupiahs.
What happened
On 14 April 2025, Indonesian police received reports of manipulated videos using artificial intelligence that impersonated Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Governor of East Java, and governors of Central Java and West Java. The videos offered motorcycles for 500,000 rupiahs, falsely claiming the sale was authorized by the governors for residents without cash-on-delivery or documentation.
Three suspects from Pangandaran District, West Java were arrested for creating and distributing the deepfake videos on TikTok. The videos directed victims to WhatsApp administrators for purchase processing and funds transfer.
Reported impact
At least 100 victims were identified across four provinces: East Java, Central Java, West Java, and North Maluku. Police confirmed examining 17 victims as witnesses.
The operation generated 87.6 million rupiahs in proceeds, of which 43.792 million rupiahs was recovered. Suspects possessed five mobile phones, social media accounts, bank accounts, and digital assets seized as evidence.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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