Cambodia is gathering evidence against suspected masterminds of large-scale cyber fraud operations, anti-scam commission head Chhay Sinarith said at a conference in Phnom Penh attended by representatives of more than 12 countries. He said legal action against a mastermind, co-conspirator, owner, enabler or protector "requires time and also requires evidence."
Analysts say the crackdown has left high-level figures and protectors of the industry largely untouched. TRM Labs analyst John Wojcik noted that many large compounds remain active, while other operators have dispersed into smaller, decentralized sites. Cambodia has declared large-scale scam compounds eradicated, and Prince Group founder Chen Zhi was arrested and deported this year.
The stakes are high: the US says scam compounds in Southeast Asia stole $10 billion from Americans alone in 2024, often using trafficked workers held in harsh conditions.