4 days ago
Cambodia Claims Scam Compounds Eradicated, Experts Remain Skeptical
Cambodia says it has stopped all of its large scam centers.
These centers allegedly tricked people around the world and sometimes held workers in harsh conditions.
Officials say they investigated hundreds of places and detained thousands of suspects.
They also say criminals are now using smaller, hidden locations instead of large compounds.
Amnesty International does not believe the scam industry has necessarily disappeared.
Experts say closing buildings is not enough if the people running the networks can restart elsewhere.
Reuters has not independently verified Cambodia’s announcement.
The real test will be whether the criminal leaders are prosecuted and prevented from operating again.
Cambodian officials say all large-scale online scam compounds have been eliminated.
Authorities say they investigated 793 suspected locations, cracked down on 624 sites and detained nearly 30,000 suspects from 39 nationalities since July 2025.
The government acknowledged that criminal groups have shifted to smaller operations in guesthouses, condominiums, rental houses, vehicles and coffee shops.
Amnesty International and a Harvard analyst questioned whether the underlying criminal networks and political protection had been dismantled.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the government’s claim and reported finding evidence of abuse and industrial-scale fraud at sites visited earlier this year.
- Who
- Cambodian authorities, including senior minister Chhay Sinarith, made the claim; Amnesty International and crime analyst Jacob Sims expressed skepticism.
- What
- Cambodia claimed that no large-scale online scam compounds remain, while acknowledging that smaller decentralized scam operations continue.
- Where
- Cambodia, including locations such as guesthouses, condominiums, rental houses, vehicles and coffee shops.
- When
- The claim was reported on August 28, following a meeting with foreign diplomats on Thursday; authorities cited actions since July 2025.
- Why
- The government says it is combating an online scam industry accused of defrauding victims worldwide, while critics want evidence that the networks and their alleged protectors have been dismantled.
Cambodian Government Position
Critics’ Position
Whether compounds have been eliminated
Cambodian Government Position
Cambodian officials say large-scale scam activities have been fully brought under control and that no online scam compounds remain.
Critics’ Position
Amnesty International and analyst Jacob Sims said claims of eradication should be treated skeptically without independent verification.
Meaning of recent crackdowns
Cambodian Government Position
Authorities point to investigations of 793 locations, crackdowns on 624 sites and the detention of nearly 30,000 suspects as evidence of progress.
Critics’ Position
Critics argue that visible disruption may not dismantle the criminal networks or political protection that enabled the industry.
What remains to be addressed
Cambodian Government Position
Cambodian authorities say they are continuing to target decentralized operations that have moved into smaller locations.
Critics’ Position
Amnesty International says the long-term test is whether responsible actors are investigated, prosecuted and prevented from restarting operations.
Key facts
- Suspected locations investigated
- 793 since July 2025
- Sites targeted
- 624
- People detained
- Nearly 30,000 suspects
- Nationalities represented
- 39
- Current operating pattern
- Smaller activities reportedly hidden in guesthouses, condominiums, rental houses, vehicles and coffee shops
- Independent verification
- Reuters said it could not independently confirm the government’s claim
- Expert concern
- Critics said closing compounds may not dismantle the underlying networks
Quotes
Montse Ferrer
Amnesty International co-regional director
“The bigger risk for the international community is confusing visible disruption with dismantling the underlying networks and political protection that made the industry possible.”
theprint.in
“highly skeptical of suggestions the scamming compound industry has been effectively eliminated”
theprint.in
Chhay Sinarith
Cambodian senior minister responsible for combating online scams
“large-scale scam activities have been brought fully under control, and there are currently no online scam compounds remaining in the country”
theprint.in
Sources
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