Viral Hypnosis Scam Video Leads to Arrest of Two Iranian Nationals at Kuta Hotel

A video showing an alleged hypnosis-based scam committed in Tabanan, Bali, went viral on social media, leading to a public tip that resulted in the arrest of two Iranian nationals by Kuta Police investigators.

According to Kuta Police public relations officer Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, residents reported seeing a car matching the description in the viral video in the Kuta area. Acting on this information, an investigation team led by Kuta Police Chief Kompol Laksmi Trisnadewi Wieryawan began tracking the vehicle and profiling the suspects starting the night of Sunday, September 20, 2026.

Officers, working undercover, followed the vehicle to a star-rated hotel near Jalan Kartika Plaza in Kuta, where the suspects' features matched those seen in the video. The two men were arrested without resistance in their hotel room and admitted to the acts shown in the viral footage during on-site questioning.

Although the arrest took place in Kuta, all the alleged crimes occurred in Tabanan regency, placing the case outside the jurisdiction of Denpasar Police. The suspects were promptly transferred to the Criminal Investigation Unit of Tabanan Police. Authorities are still investigating the total losses suffered by victims and whether the suspects operated in other locations using the same method.