Cambodia Shuts Nearly 200 Scam Centres in Nationwide Anti-Fraud Crackdown
Cambodian authorities have closed almost 200 scam centres and arrested dozens of senior crime figures in a sweeping crackdown on transnational fraud networks, marking one of the country’s largest operations against online scam syndicates.
Senior minister and chairman of Cambodia’s Commission for Combating Online Scams, Chhay Sinarith, told reporters in Phnom Penh that about 190 locations linked to scam operations have been sealed. He said 173 senior figures connected to the networks have been arrested, while more than 11,000 workers have been deported.
The campaign, which began late last year, follows mounting international pressure on Cambodia to tackle the growing influence of organised cybercrime groups operating from within its borders. The latest push was triggered by a major U.S. indictment and China’s extradition of a China-born alleged scam kingpin, seen as the strongest international action so far against the networks.
In a rare move, authorities allowed journalists access to one of the shuttered facilities in Kampot province, in an effort to demonstrate their commitment to dismantling the operations. Inside the complex, reporters saw large rooms filled with computer stations, studio booths for phone scams, and documents detailing methods used to defraud victims, particularly in Thailand. The facility also featured mock police stations and elaborate sets designed to make scams appear legitimate.
Human rights groups have described the situation as a growing humanitarian crisis. Amnesty International said thousands of scam workers — many believed to be victims of human trafficking held in harsh and abusive conditions — have fled these compounds in recent weeks in desperate attempts to return to their home countries.
Authorities said no arrests were made inside the Kampot casino complex known as My Casino, as many workers fled following the detention of alleged boss and tycoon Ly Kuong. Police officials admitted they lacked the manpower to stop the mass departures.
“We have only about 1,000 policemen in the entire province and about 300 military police,” Kampot provincial police chief Mao Chanmothurith said. “Even with both forces combined, we still couldn’t stop them because there were about 6,000 to 7,000 people when they left this place.”
Cambodian officials have previously downplayed the scale of scam operations in the country, and earlier crackdowns failed to curb their spread. However, authorities now say the current campaign is broader in scope, focusing on permanently closing sites, dismantling infrastructure and targeting senior figures behind the criminal networks.
