Jakarta, katasulsel.com — A programmer and cybersecurity enthusiast known online as Kingronal21 has become the subject of growing attention in South Sulawesi after publishing videos that trace the digital footprints of suspected online scam networks, including those linked to Sidrap and Wajo.
Through TikTok and YouTube, Kingronal21 presents investigations that go beyond identifying a single social media account. His videos show him comparing publicly available information, examining online profiles, tracing digital clues and connecting fragments of information that appear unrelated at first glance.
The approach has turned his content into something resembling a digital investigation watched in real time.
But it is one particular comment beneath his content that has now pushed the issue beyond social media.
A Comment That Caught the Police’s Attention
One of Kingronal21’s videos examined an alleged iPhone sales scam involving a suspect identified by the initials AF.
In the comment section, an account named @TassimbungTassimbung claimed to be a former online scammer from Sidrap.
The account alleged that several so-called passobis base camps in Sidrap were still operating. It also made a much more serious allegation: that money was allegedly being paid regularly to certain parties to ensure the groups could continue operating without interference.
The allegation has not been established as fact.
What made the claim significant, however, was the response from the police.
South Sulawesi Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Didik Supranoto said the information would be forwarded to the police’s Professional and Security Division (Propam) and its Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Krimsus) for follow-up.
In other words, a claim that began as a social media comment had moved into the attention of law enforcement.
That development gives Kingronal21’s content a significance beyond its viral appeal.
What Does “Passobis” Mean?
For readers outside Indonesia, passobis is a local term commonly used in South Sulawesi to describe online scammers or online fraud operations.
The methods can range from fake sales and fraudulent investments to impersonation and scams conducted through social media, messaging applications and online marketplaces.
Sidrap has repeatedly appeared in law-enforcement cases involving such schemes.
In April 2025, a joint intelligence team from Kodam XIV/Hasanuddin, the Indonesian Army’s regional command, detained 40 people in Sidrap in an investigation into an alleged online scam network. Authorities said the group allegedly used fake identities, including the names and identities of military officials, in online fraud schemes.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of 144 mobile phones and other equipment. However, the subsequent legal process illustrates why allegations and arrests should not automatically be treated as convictions: police later released 37 of the 40 people because there were initially insufficient formal victim reports, while three remained under further investigation.
The case nevertheless demonstrated how large and organized online fraud operations can become.
Sidrap Again in the Spotlight in 2026
The issue resurfaced in July 2026 when South Sulawesi Police announced the dismantling of an alleged passobis operation in Sidrap involving the exploitation of children.
Police said 12 people were apprehended, including three minors. Investigators alleged that children were recruited and used in online sales scams conducted through Facebook.
Then, in August, another investigation brought Sidrap back into the national spotlight.
West Java Police arrested 12 alleged members of an online fraud network operating from Sidrap after an operation in which around 20 people were initially taken for questioning. The alleged scheme involved advertising vehicles at unusually low prices on Facebook before moving conversations to WhatsApp and requesting payments from victims.
According to the police account reported by IDN Times, the network allegedly used military identities, uniforms and even fake weapons to make the operation appear legitimate.
These cases provide important context for understanding why digital investigations conducted by independent online creators can attract public attention.
And What About Wajo?
Wajo, another district in South Sulawesi, has also been mentioned in discussions surrounding the spread of passobis networks.
Academic research on the communication patterns of passobis in Sidrap has documented the existence of interconnected informal networks and noted the evolution of online fraud methods.
However, claims about specific locations or individuals in Wajo should be treated carefully unless supported by official investigations or court records.
This distinction matters.
A viral post can point investigators toward a lead. It cannot, by itself, establish criminal responsibility.
Is Kingronal21 Really a “Hacker”?
Kingronal21 is sometimes described by internet users as a hacker because of the way he traces digital information.
But that label needs to be used cautiously.
His public profile identifies him as a programmer and web developer, while his YouTube presence also focuses on programming and education around online threats.
What stands out in his videos is not necessarily illegal hacking, but the ability to connect publicly available digital information.
A social media username can lead to another account. An account can reveal a pattern. A photograph may contain contextual clues. A marketplace advertisement can connect to a messaging account.
Individually, each piece may appear insignificant.
Together, they can form a much clearer picture.
That is what makes his videos compelling to viewers: they are not simply told that an alleged scam exists. They are shown how digital traces can potentially be pieced together.
Viral Evidence Is Not the Same as Legal Evidence
There is, however, an important line that should not be crossed.
Digital tracing conducted by an individual does not constitute a criminal verdict.
A name, photograph, telephone number, bank account or location appearing in an online investigation does not automatically prove that the person associated with it committed a crime.
That determination belongs to law enforcement and, ultimately, the judicial process.
The recent controversy surrounding the alleged payments to protect passobis operations illustrates why this distinction is particularly important. The allegation is serious, but authorities have only said that the information will be investigated.
For now, it remains an allegation—not an established fact.
The New Front Line Against Online Scams
The story of Kingronal21 reflects a broader change in the fight against online fraud.
Scammers increasingly operate through the same digital platforms used by ordinary people every day: Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp and online marketplaces.
That means their victims are not the only people watching.
Digital footprints can also be examined by cybersecurity researchers, journalists, investigators and members of the public.
In Sidrap and Wajo, the growing attention surrounding passobis shows how an online trail can move from a social media screen to the desks of law-enforcement officials.
And Kingronal21’s growing audience suggests another reality of the digital age:
The internet can be a place where scams begin—but it can also be where their traces are first discovered.
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