Cambodia claims it has wiped out online scam compounds after a sweeping crackdown
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia , notorious for being a major center for international online scams, claimed Friday it no longer hosts any of the compounds where the lucrative cybercrime was carried out, although some remain skeptical. The…
Cambodia asserts it has eliminated all online scam compounds following a comprehensive crackdown, according to a statement from the government's Ad-Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams. The statement, issued on Friday, claims the government has successfully dismantled large-scale scam operations, taken stringent legal action against perpetrators and involved officials, and established a robust cybersecurity legal framework.
Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, who heads the anti-scam agency, led a meeting with around 50 representatives from foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations to present the government's claims. However, skepticism and guarded optimism surround these assertions, as independent groups have closely monitored the scam compounds.
These infamous entities not only defraud billions of dollars from people worldwide but also engage in human trafficking. Thousands of foreign nationals are lured into "romance" and cryptocurrency scams through false job offers, often subjected to conditions akin to slavery. In 2025, these scams reportedly resulted in a combined loss of $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Despite the government's strong confidence in its claim of eradicating all scam operations in Cambodia, independent consultant Mark Taylor, a former head of an anti-trafficking program in Cambodia, cautioned that the skepticism regarding this assertion is "severely misplaced."
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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