Crypto Scam Foiled in Bali: Foreigners Impersonated Client and Interpol Agent

A daring heist attempt took place at Aura Segara Villa in Tuban, Badung, Bali, on July 27, 2025. Evgeniy Victorovich Pak (EVP) from Uzbekistan and Taccoddin Fazil Oglu Tajaddin Hajiyep (TH) from Azerbaijan Plotted an attack intended to harm two money changer employees.

The accused tricked the victims into coming to the property by having TH pretend to be a bitcoin client and EVP pretend to be an Interpol agent. Residents who were paying attention and police who acted quickly stopped the attempted theft of Rp191 million (about US$11,310).

The Deceptive Plot

The scam started when TH messaged a money changer on Telegram to ask about the USDT (Tether) exchange rate and asked for cash to be sent to the villa. At first, TH wanted to trade 9,700 USDT for Rp153 million, but eventually raised the sum to Rp191 million, and two workers, known as E and F, were sent to the site.

When E and F arrived at the villa, TH invited them inside to count the money; consequently, EVP entered wearing a mask and helmet, claiming to be an Interpol agent as the deal appeared to be nearing completion. Things became worse when EVP tried to strangle F, and TH attacked E, showing that they were planning to loot the workers.

Swift Community and Police Response

The plan fell apart when E got away and asked for aid. People in the area intervened and chased the suspects, who were riding away on a black N-Max motorbike. During the chase, TH fell, causing the stolen money to scatter all over the road. This crazy scene, which was shared on social media, showed how quickly the community acted.

On July 28, police caught EVP trying to leave I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport for Bangkok with his girlfriend. Earlier, TH was arrested when the residents stepped in. Kuta Police Chief Commissioner Agus Riwayanto Diputra appreciated the teamwork that stopped the crime.

The Bigger Picture of Crime in Bali

This event raises concerns about foreigners committing crimes in Bali, and recent news talks about problems, including crypto scams, villa robberies, and organised crime. These problems are generally linked to weak immigration rules and people being desperate for money after the pandemic.

To protect Bali’s tourism economy, authorities are now working harder to monitor foreign visitors and prevent similar incidents from happening. The arrests of EVP and TH show that the community and the police can work together to stop complicated schemes.

Both suspects are in jail, and the Kuta Police are still looking into the case. This failed heist underscores the importance of closely monitoring cryptocurrency transactions in Bali, where such scams have become increasingly prevalent.