Indonesia is calling for faster international cooperation to combat increasingly sophisticated online scam networks that operate across national borders.

Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno said Indonesia was ready to work with international institutions, including Interpol, to improve cooperation against cyber-enabled fraud and organized online scam operations.

Indonesian authorities have highlighted the difficulty of tackling scam networks that can move people, money, technology and criminal operations between countries within a short period. Officials say law-enforcement cooperation needs to operate at a similar speed.

The issue was discussed during an international conference on combating online scams in Phnom Penh, where representatives from around 20 countries, including the United States and China, participated.

Indonesia has proposed stronger coordination between existing national, regional and international mechanisms rather than creating an entirely new institution. The proposed approach would focus on speeding up information sharing, coordinating investigations and improving cooperation in tracing and recovering criminal assets.

The scale of the problem is significant for Indonesia. Indonesian authorities have reported that thousands of Indonesian citizens previously involved in online scam operations in Cambodia have sought assistance returning home. According to Indonesian government information, more than 8,000 people had been facilitated to return by mid-September, while additional Indonesians were secured during subsequent operations.

Authorities are also investigating the illegal circulation and sale of personal data. Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs said it was coordinating with police and the country’s cyber-security agency after old leaked data began circulating again online. Officials stressed that previously leaked personal information remains protected and should not be redistributed.

The Indonesian government says online scams increasingly operate as organized, cross-border criminal enterprises, making cooperation between police, financial authorities, technology agencies and international organizations essential.

The country’s latest efforts reflect a broader push across Southeast Asia to improve mechanisms for identifying scam networks, sharing intelligence, protecting victims and disrupting financial flows associated with online fraud.

Indonesia’s authorities are expected to continue strengthening cooperation with regional partners and international law-enforcement agencies as investigations into cross-border scam networks expand.