Bali Police Warn Foreigners About the Risks of Buying Land Through Nominee Owners

A land plot in Bali and a police warning about nominee deals

Bali police have turned their attention to land fraud, whose victims include foreign investors. A dedicated task force, Satgas Anti Mafia Tanah, operates in the region to handle such cases. Bali Post reported this on 10 September, citing police spokesperson Ariasandy.

Foreigners were urged not to use nominee schemes, under which land is registered in another person's name. According to the police spokesperson, such deals may entail criminal liability and confiscation of the land by the state.

To reduce the risks, police recommend carrying out transactions officially, checking land certificates with the National Land Agency (BPN) and involving a notary. Among the common fraud patterns named were certificate forgery, selling one plot to several buyers, and intimidation.

The task force accepts reports from victims, works with BPN, the prosecutor's office and local authorities, and also identifies areas with a heightened risk of land disputes.

As of 10 September, police had received five reports of such cases in 2026. Investigations have been opened into three of them, and in two more the procedure for naming suspects is under way. Land fraud can be reported by calling 110 or in person at Bali police units. These figures were provided by Bali Post.

Planning a property deal in Bali? The Legal Indonesia team can help you check the documents and title to the property, as well as the terms of the contract, before you pay a deposit or transfer any money.

Get a consultation

You may also like

18/09/2026Four Marketplaces in Indonesia to Start Withholding Seller Tax From October 1

Tokopedia, Shopee, Lazada, and Blibli are preparing to start withholding income tax from sellers on October 1, 2026. The plan was announced by Bimo Wijayanto, Director General of Indonesia's Directorate General of Taxes (DJP). According to him, both

17/09/2026PT tax calendar: what to file and when in 2026–2027

The company was set up in spring. The first months are quiet: no clients, an empty account, no real activity yet. In autumn the accountant asks about the reports for March, and it turns out they had to be filed from the very first month — whether

16/09/2026Hotel Standard Certificate in Bali: How to Get It

For the hotel business in Bali, company registration alone is not enough. Depending on the property's characteristics, the government system determines the risk level and the list of required permits. Medium-high risk hotels need a Sertifikat Standar

08/09/2026Halal Certification from 18 October 2026: What It Means for a PT PMA

As of 18 October 2026, Indonesia enters the next stage of mandatory halal certification: the transition period for a number of product categories ends on 17 October. Coverage of this stage usually describes it as certification for cosmetics and

07/09/2026Anak Krakatau Eruption and Cancelled Flights: What to Do If Your Visa Is Expiring

As recently as Friday, a departure from Denpasar was just an ordinary line in the schedule. By Sunday, September 6, 2026, volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau had closed part of the airspace over western Indonesia, and dozens of flights from I Gusti

04/09/2026Business for Sale in Bali: How to Sell After Leaving Indonesia

The scenario is a familiar one. You found a new country, moved your family, changed time zones. Meanwhile, your business in Bali keeps running: staff, a bank account, licenses, reporting. You decide to manage it remotely - temporarily, until it

27/08/2026Who can now handle your company's taxes

For most PT owners, taxes are someone else's job. An in-house bookkeeper, a consultant you know, an outsourced agency. For years nobody minded: there was a person who knew how to fill in the forms, and that person filed them. In July 2026 the

21/08/2026August 25 — non-working day

Dear clients, On August 25, immigration offices and our office will be closed. Our online support works on a shortened schedule — 10:00–22:00 Bali time. Please plan your visas, extensions and passports in advance. You can reach us here: 📱 Telegram:

20/08/2026Retirement KITAS in Indonesia (E33F): a practical guide

You have decided to spend your retirement in Indonesia. The climate suits you, the cost of living works, and the six-month visa runs are starting to feel like a part-time job. The question is no longer whether you want to stay, the question is which

14/08/2026Visa Runs from Bali: 4 More Destinations with Easy Entry (Part 2)

In Part 1 we covered the destinations closest to Bali: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. Part 2 adds four more options with straightforward entry: the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. All information is current as of

14/08/2026Visa Runs from Bali: 4 Destinations with Easy Entry (Part 1)

Sooner or later, almost everyone living in Bali on a visa faces a visa run. A visa run is a short trip out of Indonesia either to switch to a new visa arranged in advance, or to obtain a visa on arrival again on the way back in. The task is

14/08/2026Autogates at Bali and Jakarta Airports: 2026 Guide and Common Mistakes

An autogate is an electronic gate at passport control: you place your passport on the scanner, look into the camera, and 15 to 25 seconds later you are in the country, with no queue for an officer and no stamp in your passport. Bali (Ngurah Rai

12/08/2026Indonesia Is Not Only Bali: Lombok and Jakarta for a New Business

When it comes to starting a business in Indonesia, the default choice is Bali. Yet the most notable developments this year are happening in two other places: Lombok and Jakarta. Let us look at what has appeared there, which incentives are available,

10/08/2026A Tree Fell on a Hotel Guest in Bali: How to Get Compensation Without Going to Court

In late November 2025, a tree came down on a tourist at a hotel in Bali and injured her badly. She had come to the hotel for a single day, on a day pass. Eight months later, the resort paid her compensation of more than USD 13,000, and all of it