Archive · 23 Jan 2026
South Korea repatriates 73 scam suspects from Cambodia
South Korea brought back 73 people from Cambodia who are suspected of running online scams.
These suspects are accused of tricking over 800 South Koreans out of about $33 million.
The group was the largest to be returned so far and landed at Incheon International Airport.
Among the suspects is a couple who used deepfake technology to pretend to be someone else in romance scams, stealing about 12 billion won.
Another suspect pretended to be a professional investor and took about 19.4 billion won from retirees and new workers.
South Korea and Cambodia worked together to find these scam centers and bring the suspects back.
The police said they will keep pursuing crimes that hurt South Koreans, no matter where they happen.
South Korea repatriated 73 suspects from Cambodia involved in online scams defrauding 869 South Koreans of $33 million.
The suspects were brought to Incheon International Airport and will be questioned by authorities.
Seven scam centers were uncovered, with one couple using deepfake technology to commit romance scams.
Another suspect pretended to be a professional investor, extorting 19.4 billion won from retirees and entry-level employees.
South Korea and Cambodia cooperated in the joint investigation to eradicate transnational scam crimes.
- Who
- 73 South Korean suspects repatriated from Cambodia
- What
- Repatriation of suspects involved in online scams
- When
- January 23, 2024
- Where
- Incheon International Airport, South Korea
- Why
- To question them over allegations of defrauding over 800 South Koreans of about $33 million
- Number of suspects
- 73
- Amount defrauded
- $33 million
- Number of victims
- 869 South Koreans
- Scam centers uncovered
- 7
- Deepfake romance scam amount
- 12 billion won
- Investment scam amount
- 19.4 billion won
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 1,467.3100 won