Cambodia Says Major Scam Compounds Cleared as Criminal Networks Move to Smaller Sites

Cambodian authorities have stated that major online scam compounds across the country have been dismantled following a nationwide enforcement campaign launched in mid-2025, while acknowledging that criminal networks continue to operate through smaller and more dispersed locations.

The campaign has targeted large-scale facilities associated with online fraud, including compounds used by transnational criminal groups. Cambodian officials said the enforcement campaign continued through August 2026 and resulted in the closure of the major scam centres previously identified by authorities.

Chhay Sinarith, Senior Minister and head of the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams, said in August that no major online scam compounds remained operational in Cambodia. Authorities have stated that 86 major locations had been subject to enforcement measures during the campaign.

The Cambodian government has also reported enforcement action against individuals and officials allegedly involved in facilitating or protecting scam operations. According to government figures, 15 senior officials and law-enforcement officers were arrested and removed from their positions in connection with alleged collusion, facilitation or protection of scam compounds.

The dismantling of large compounds has not eliminated online scam activity, however. Cambodian authorities acknowledge that criminal groups are adapting by moving operations into smaller and less visible locations. These include rented houses, apartments, condominiums, cafés, guesthouses and other temporary or mobile sites.

A recent operation in Koh Kong province illustrates the shift. On 29 and 30 August, authorities conducted raids in Kiri Sakor district targeting suspected online scam locations. Thirty-four people were detained, including 33 Chinese nationals and one Cambodian woman. Authorities also seized 746 mobile phones, 33 laptops, 34 desktop or all-in-one computers, two CPUs and two monitors. The suspects and equipment were transferred to provincial police for further investigation and legal proceedings.

The operation followed a broader series of enforcement actions against decentralised scam activities. Cambodian authorities have said that criminal groups are increasingly avoiding the large compounds previously associated with the country's online fraud industry and are instead using smaller premises that can be relocated or concealed more easily.

The Cambodian government has reported that more than 600 locations have been targeted during its enforcement campaign. It has also taken action against gambling establishments linked to online scam activity. In September, licences for 18 casinos identified as being involved in online scams were revoked, while nine additional casino licences were suspended pending further investigation.

The enforcement campaign has included action against prominent individuals alleged by authorities to have links to transnational criminal and financial networks. Cambodian authorities have identified the arrests and extraditions of Chen Zhi, chairman of Prince Holding Group, and Li Xiong, chairman of Huione Group, among the prominent cases arising from the broader crackdown.

Chen Zhi was arrested and extradited to China in January 2026, while Li Xiong was extradited to China in April 2026, according to Cambodian government reporting. Their cases form part of the government's wider efforts against individuals and organisations alleged to be connected to online fraud and related criminal networks.

Cambodia has also introduced additional legal measures targeting online fraud. The government has said that technology-related crime legislation provides for severe penalties against online scam organisers, including potentially life imprisonment and the confiscation of assets following applicable legal proceedings.

The government's assessment that major scam compounds have been eliminated has nevertheless been accompanied by concerns from international organisations and researchers about the continued presence and adaptability of the industry. Amnesty International reported in June that it had identified 86 suspected scam compounds in Cambodia as of the end of April 2026 and found evidence of state intervention at 24 of those locations. The organisation said some operations had continued or relocated following enforcement actions.

Reuters also reported in August that Cambodian authorities had declared that scam compounds had been eradicated while officials acknowledged that criminal groups were shifting toward smaller and decentralised operations. The report noted that outside observers remained concerned about whether the wider scam industry had actually been eliminated.

The distinction between the closure of large physical compounds and the elimination of online fraud activity is therefore significant. Cambodian authorities have said that the large-scale facilities that previously housed major scam operations have been brought under control, while simultaneously reporting continuing investigations into smaller operations.

The changing structure of the networks presents a different enforcement challenge. Smaller operations located in residential or commercial premises can be more difficult to identify than large compounds, particularly where equipment and personnel can be moved quickly between locations. Cambodian authorities have said they are continuing inspections and investigations in response to these changes.

The crackdown is taking place as Cambodia hosts an international conference on combating online scams in Phnom Penh on 23–24 September 2026. The conference brings together representatives from multiple countries and international organisations to discuss cooperation against cross-border cybercrime and online fraud.

Cambodian authorities have presented the dismantling of the major compounds as a major stage in the country's campaign against online scams, while continuing to acknowledge that criminal groups remain active and are changing their operating methods. Enforcement efforts are consequently continuing against smaller and decentralised locations as authorities seek to prevent the re-establishment of large-scale scam centres.

By fLEXI tEAM