I was in Jakarta when I saw an article on the front page of The Jakarta Post with the headline “Property firm deceives thousands of buyers” (May 27, 2015). Another story of property investment scam A property consulting firm known as PT Royal Premier Internasional marketed to the public investment opportunities of 12 complexes across Jakarta, Bali, Yogyakarta, Bandung in West Java and Tangerang in Banten. The company bought condotels from developers with progressive payments but claimed that it owned those properties. By leveraging on a partnership with the reputable property agency Century 21, their investment opportunity gained a lot of credibility. Prospective buyers were also lured with attractive incentives by making one-off payment, including high return on investment and various gifts such as cash back and car prizes. As in any high profile investment scheme that promises ultra-high returns, we all know what’s going to happen next: ......