Cambodia claims end to online scam compounds, experts remain skeptical
Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
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- Cambodia's government claims it has successfully shut down all large-scale online scam compounds operating within the country.
- Officials state that criminal groups have shifted to smaller, decentralized operations, which authorities continue to pursue.
- Human rights organizations and experts are skeptical of the government's claims, citing the industry's deep entrenchment and lack of independent verification.
Cambodia's government has declared a significant victory in its fight against the online scam industry, asserting that all large-scale scam compounds have been eradicated within the country. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith announced on Thursday that "large-scale scam activities have been brought fully under control, and there are currently no online scam compounds remaining in the country."
large-scale scam activities have been brought fully under control, and there are currently no online scam compounds remaining in the country.
According to a statement released Friday, officials acknowledged that criminal groups have adapted by moving to decentralized, smaller-scale activities. These operations are reportedly hidden in various locations such as guesthouses, condominiums, rental houses, vehicles, and coffee shops. Cambodian authorities stated they are continuing to target these smaller operations.
However, the claim of eradication has been met with significant skepticism from international observers. Amnesty International's co-regional director, Montse Ferrer, expressed strong doubt, stating the human rights group is "highly skeptical of suggestions the scamming compound industry has been effectively eliminated" due to its deeply entrenched links within the country. Ferrer emphasized that true success would be measured by the prosecution of responsible actors, not just the closure of compounds.
highly skeptical of suggestions the scamming compound industry has been effectively eliminated.
Analysts echo these concerns. Jacob Sims, a visiting fellow at Harvard University specializing in transnational crime in Southeast Asia, noted that while international pressure has disrupted the large compounds, "claims of eradication with no independent verification must be viewed with skepticism." He warned that the "bigger risk for the international community is confusing visible disruption with dismantling the underlying networks and political protection that made the industry possible."
The true test of long-term success is not how many compounds have closed, but whether the actors responsible have been investigated, prosecuted and prevented from resuming operations.
Since July 2025, Cambodian authorities reported investigating 793 suspected locations, leading to crackdowns on 624 sites and the detention of nearly 30,000 suspects from 39 nationalities. Despite these figures, Reuters journalists who visited abandoned scam centers found evidence of widespread abuse and industrial-scale fraud that has defrauded victims globally.
claims of eradication with no independent verification must be viewed with skepticism.
About this summary
Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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