Cambodia has announced that large-scale online scam compounds are no longer operating in the country following an extensive government crackdown. Officials say hundreds of suspected locations have been investigated and thousands of people detained. However, human rights organizations and experts remain skeptical, warning that scam networks may have simply moved into smaller and harder-to-detect locations.
Cambodia Claims Major Progress Against Online Scam Networks
Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, who leads Cambodia’s efforts against online scams, told foreign diplomats that major scam operations had been brought under control.
According to Cambodian authorities, investigators have examined 793 suspected locations since July 2025. Operations were carried out against 624 sites, resulting in the detention of nearly 30,000 suspects from 39 different nationalities.
The government says its campaign represents a significant step in tackling an international scam industry blamed for stealing billions of dollars from victims worldwide.
Officials acknowledged, however, that some criminal groups may now be operating on a smaller scale from locations such as condominiums, rental properties, guesthouses, vehicles and even coffee shops.
Experts Warn Scam Operations May Have Gone Underground
Despite the government’s declaration, experts and rights groups have questioned whether Cambodia’s scam industry has truly been dismantled.
Amnesty International expressed strong doubts about claims that the problem has been eliminated, arguing that the real measure of success should be whether those responsible for organizing and profiting from the criminal networks are investigated and prosecuted.
Analysts have also warned that shutting down visible scam compounds does not necessarily mean the wider criminal infrastructure has disappeared.
Jacob Sims, an analyst specializing in transnational crime in Southeast Asia, said international pressure has disrupted many of the large compounds that previously operated openly. However, he cautioned that disrupting visible locations is different from dismantling the networks and protection systems that allowed the industry to expand.
Online Scam Industry Remains a Major Regional Concern
Large scam operations have spread across several parts of Southeast Asia in recent years, including Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and areas near the Myanmar-Thailand border.
Many compounds have been linked to organized criminal groups and have reportedly employed large numbers of workers, including people who were trafficked and forced into carrying out online fraud.
Previous investigations into Cambodian scam centers uncovered allegations of abuse and large-scale fraud targeting victims across the world. The full extent of Cambodia’s latest crackdown remains difficult to independently verify.
While authorities maintain that major online scam compounds have been eliminated, experts say continued investigations, prosecutions and international cooperation will be necessary to prevent criminal groups from rebuilding or relocating their operations.
