The central bank (Bank Indonesia/BI) has forced the shutdown of a total of 455 illegal money changers – across Indonesia – by May 2017. These illegal money changers also include many gold shops and travel agents where people can change rupiah for foreign exchange (and vice versa). BI Governor Agus Martowardojo warned the actors behind these illegal money changing activities by saying it constitutes an “extraordinary crime” that can even involve money laundering, corruption or the funding of terrorist networks because those people that engage in those actions (money laundering and terrorism) will prefer to seek the service of illegal money changers, rather than from the nation’s licensed money changers. Tourists are advised to be careful when changing money and always search for a licensed money changer, preferably in a big hotel or bank.