Indonesia's OJK Cracks Down on Illegal Pawnshops and Abusive Debt Collectors

Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) has identified 184 illegal pawnshop operators operating without licences and is working with the Satgas PASTI task force to halt their activities, block related websites and social‑media accounts, and refer cases to law‑enforcement. OJK urges these operators to obtain proper authorisation under the recently issued POJK No. 29/2025 and highlights consumer risks stemming from low financial literacy and the appeal of fast, unregulated credit.

The regulator also summoned PT Toyota Astra Financial Services (TAFS) after reports of violent debt‑collection tactics in Serang, Banten. OJK demanded a comprehensive review of TAFS’s collection procedures, tighter oversight of third‑party collectors, submission of relevant documents, and warned of possible administrative sanctions if violations are confirmed, reaffirming its commitment to professional, ethical treatment of borrowers.