Cambodia Shuts Down More Than 700 Online Scam Centres
Cambodian authorities have announced the closure of more than 700 online scam centres during a year-long enforcement operation. Nearly 30,000 suspects, including a number of senior government officials, have been detained in connection with online scam practices over the same period.
The Southeast Asian nation has become a hub for criminal syndicates orchestrating romance scams and cryptocurrency investment schemes. In their operations, the perpetrators—whether acting voluntarily or as victims of human trafficking—defraud internet users worldwide.
Under pressure from various countries including the United States and China, Cambodian authorities have stated they are cracking down on such practices within their territory.
In its latest statement, the Cambodian government announced the “clean-up” of more than 700 online scam operation sites across the country. Phnom Penh authorities also said they have deported 58,266 foreign nationals over the past year in connection with online scam practices.
Furthermore, Cambodian authorities stated that nearly 30,000 suspects have been arrested, including 15 senior officials and law enforcement officers. More than 3,400 of those suspects remain in detention awaiting trial. The thousands of suspects facing prosecution come from 29 countries, including China, Vietnam, Australia, France, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.
“Although large-scale locations have been completely cleared, criminal groups have changed their tactics to decentralised small-scale activities, hiding in guest houses, condominiums, rented houses, vehicles, and coffee shops,” the Cambodian government stated.
Cambodia has extradited Chen Zhi, a Chinese-born scam boss who also served as the leader of the multi-billion-dollar conglomerate Prince Holding Group. Chen was extradited to his home country, China, in January after being sanctioned by the US and UK governments.
In April, Phnom Penh authorities also extradited another suspect named Li Xiong to China. Beijing authorities accused Li, also Chinese-born and a former leader of Huione Group, of playing a key role in a large-scale transnational online gambling and fraud syndicate.