Cambodia says more than 700 scam centres closed in crackdown
Cambodia says it has closed more than 700 online scam centres, arrested nearly 30,000 suspects and deported 58,266 foreign nationals over the past year.
Cambodia said it had closed more than 700 online scam centres and arrested nearly 30,000 suspects, including senior government and law-enforcement officials, during a nationwide crackdown over the past year.
A government statement issued on Friday (August 28) said authorities had cleared more than 700 compounds and deported 58,266 foreign nationals, Channel News Asia reported.
Senior officials among those arrested
The Cambodian government said 15 senior government and law-enforcement officials were among those arrested over alleged involvement in the online scam industry.
More than 3,400 suspects from 29 nationalities remained in custody awaiting trial. They included citizens of China, Vietnam, Australia, France, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand.
Cambodia has emerged as a hub for criminal syndicates operating romance and cryptocurrency investment scams targeting internet users around the world.
Those working in the compounds reportedly include both willing participants and trafficking victims who have been forced to carry out online fraud.
Crackdown follows international pressure
The campaign was launched amid pressure from several countries, particularly the United States and China, for Cambodian authorities to take stronger action against online scam networks.
In January, Cambodia extradited alleged scam boss Chen Zhi, the Chinese-born chairman of Cambodian conglomerate Prince Holding Group, to China after he was sanctioned by the US and UK governments.
Cambodia also extradited Li Xiong, the Chinese-born former chairman of Huione Group, to China in April. Beijing has accused him of playing a key role in a major transnational gambling and fraud syndicate.
Networks move into smaller locations
Despite the crackdown on large compounds, Cambodian authorities acknowledged that criminal groups had changed their tactics and dispersed into smaller operations.
“Although large-scale sites have been completely cleared, criminal groups have altered their tactics to decentralised, small-scale activities,” the government said.
The statement added that such operations were increasingly being concealed in guesthouses, condominiums, rented houses, vehicles and coffee shops.
