Cambodia's claim of eradicating scam compounds met with skepticism

Cambodia has declared victory over the sprawling scam compounds that once made it a global hub for cybercrime, asserting that large-scale operations are now fully under control. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, head of the government's ad hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams, informed 50 foreign diplomats and international officials that "large-scale scam activities have been brought fully under control, and there are currently no online scam compounds remaining in the country."

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large-scale scam activities have been brought fully under control, and there are currently no online scam compounds remaining in the country.

The government statement detailed efforts including "the complete eradication of large-scale online scam operations, strict legal actions against perpetrators, networks and involved officials, alongside the systematic establishment of a cybersecurity legal framework." Authorities reported investigating 793 suspected locations and raiding 624 sites between July 2025 and August 2026, detaining nearly 30,000 suspects of 39 nationalities. They also stated that 58,266 foreign nationals were rescued and deported, with 3,477 suspects arrested and jailed pending trial.

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The rights group is 'highly skeptical of suggestions the scamming compound industry has been effectively eliminated.'

However, Cambodia's claims have been met with significant skepticism from international rights groups and industry experts. Amnesty International's co-regional director, Montse Ferrer, expressed strong doubt, stating, "The rights group is 'highly skeptical of suggestions the scamming compound industry has been effectively eliminated.'" Ferrer emphasized that "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."

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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.

Independent anti-trafficking consultant Mark Taylor echoed these concerns, calling the government's assertion "severely misplaced." Taylor noted "credible indicators that significant scamming operations continue and that recruitment of foreign workers into Cambodia for scamming work continues." The Cambodian statement itself acknowledged that criminal groups have shifted to decentralized operations, hiding in guesthouses, condominiums, rental houses, vehicles, and coffee shops, which authorities vowed to continue targeting. Reuters news agency has not independently confirmed the eradication claim.

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There are credible indicators that significant scamming operations continue and that recruitment of foreign workers into Cambodia for scamming work continues.