Seeking Victims in Indonesia Showbiz Scam Investigation
The FBI is seeking victims who may have traveled to Indonesia between 2013 and the present to pursue a fraudulent offer of employment from individuals claiming to be well-known entertainment industry professionals.
In this ongoing transnational fraud scheme targeting U.S. citizens, victims are contacted by text, email, or phone with a lucrative job offer in the entertainment industry; victims to date have included writers, stuntpeople, make-up artists, security providers, and photographers. Victims are told the job requires travel to Indonesia, typically Jakarta, for a so-called trial run of their services. When they arrive in Indonesia, the victims are met by a driver and are pressured into providing U.S. currency for the driver’s services. The victims are asked to continue to pay for other services and fees until the trip is completed or they realize they are the victim of a scam. The victims are not reimbursed for the cost of the travel or paid for their services while in Indonesia.
If you lost funds from traveling under false pretenses during the time period listed above, please complete this brief questionnaire. Your responses are voluntary but may be useful in an ongoing federal investigation. Based on the responses provided, you may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.
Please be advised this is an ongoing scam, and individuals who have plans to travel to Indonesia for a job opportunity in the entertainment industry should perform additional research and proceed with caution.
The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes that it investigates and provide these victims with information, assistance services, and resources.
Questionnaire:
Related Press Release:
FBI Resources:
- Practical Ideas for Coping with Victimization
- Help for Victims of Crime
- Financial Crime and You
- Description of the Federal Criminal Justice Process
Crisis Hotlines:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 1-800-273-8255
- National Center for Victims of Crime | Hotlines and helpful links
- Office for Victims of Crime | Toll-free and online hotlines
