The National Central Bureau (NCB)-Interpol Indonesia has urged members of the public to coordinate with it when conducting international online transactions in order to prevent cases of fraud.
NCB-Interpol Indonesia secretary Brig. Gen. Halba Rubis Nugroho said many Indonesians were still vulnerable to online transaction fraud while foreign citizens were also subject to fraud by online sellers in Indonesia.
Victims of online transaction fraud often realize they have been cheated after transferring money for goods that never arrive.
"To avoid being cheated, you can coordinate with NCB-Interpol Indonesia to find out whether the overseas sellers really exist and are legal, or just a scam," Halba said at the opening of a two-day ASEAN Workshop on Cyber Crime Investigation, attended by 70 participants from various ASEAN countries at the Hotel Grand Preanger in Bandung, West Java, which ended Thursday.
He said many of his colleagues from NCB-Interpol member countries had requested his agency investigate certain domestic companies due to the high number of victims.
ASEAN political and security director Ade Padmo Sarwono said the Foreign Ministry was seeking to promote cooperation on the issue of extradition among ASEAN member states.
Indonesia has mutual legal assistance in the exchange of information and extradition of criminals with the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.
Ade called for the endorsement of a legally binding extradition treaty among all ASEAN member states. "Such a treaty *as the one with Singapore* can overcome the problems we are facing," he said.
In response to the number of suspects who had fled to Singapore to avoid prosecution, Ade said the police cooperated directly with their Singaporean counterparts to arrest the fugitives, such as Anggoro Widjoyo, a suspect in a Forestry Ministry graft case being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
"I can't speak for the police as these are clearly bilateral issues," Ade said.
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