In a significant development in Southeast Asia's ongoing battle against organised cybercrime, thousands of individuals have reportedly fled or been released from suspected scam compounds across Cambodia in recent days. The exodus follows mounting international pressure on the Cambodian government to dismantle the multibillion-dollar online fraud industry that has become entrenched within the country.
Unprecedented Scale of Releases
While exact figures remain elusive, estimates suggest the number of people leaving these facilities runs into the thousands. The Indonesian embassy in Phnom Penh has confirmed receiving reports from 1,440 of its nationals who have been released from scam centres. Meanwhile, substantial queues of Chinese nationals have been observed outside the Chinese embassy, indicating a widespread phenomenon affecting multiple nationalities.
Amnesty International has conducted detailed analysis of the situation, geolocating fifteen separate videos and images while reviewing numerous social media posts. Their investigation appears to document escape attempts and releases from at least ten different scamming compounds scattered throughout Cambodia.
Concerns Over Welfare and Support
Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International's regional research director, has expressed deep concern about the lack of support structures for those who have been released. "Some have been seen walking around in search of assistance," Ferrer noted, adding that while some individuals have managed to reach safe houses, many remain vulnerable.
This vulnerability creates a dangerous cycle, Ferrer warned. Without proper support and protection, there is a significant risk that released workers might simply be transferred to new scamming locations—a pattern observed in previous releases. "We've seen people who are forced to move to other compounds," she explained, "and it's possible that if people have escaped but don't know where to go, don't know what to do next, they end up in another compound."
International Pressure Catalyses Change
Jacob Sims, a visiting fellow at Harvard University's Asia Center and senior adviser on transnational crime at Inca Digital, described the recent developments as unprecedented in Cambodia. "It is extremely clear that this is all being precipitated by escalating international pressure," Sims stated, highlighting that this pressure has been building for years but intensified dramatically with historic actions taken by the United Kingdom and United States on October 14 against Chinese-born Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi.
Chen Zhi, chairman of Prince Group, was sanctioned by both nations last October, with the US accusing him of operating a "transnational criminal empire through online investment scams targeting Americans and others worldwide." His subsequent arrest and extradition to China earlier this month represents the strongest action yet taken against criminal syndicates operating within Cambodia.
The Scale of the Scam Industry
The online scam industry has flourished across Southeast Asia in recent years, with Cambodia becoming a significant hub. United Nations estimates suggest approximately 100,000 people work inside these compounds, many having been deceived into accepting jobs only to find themselves held against their will and forced to conduct various online frauds. These scams range from romance-investment deceptions to sophisticated cryptocurrency frauds.
According to estimates from the United States Institute of Peace, cyber scamming in Cambodia generates returns exceeding $12.5 billion annually—a staggering figure equivalent to half the country's formal GDP.
Government Response and Complicity Allegations
Prime Minister Hun Manet has publicly pledged on Facebook to "eliminate ... all the problems related to the crime of cyber scams." However, the Cambodian government did not respond to requests for comment regarding the recent releases.
The government faces serious allegations of complicity in the scam industry. The US Trafficking in Persons Report for 2024 specifically warned that "some senior government officials and advisers owned—either directly or through businesses—properties and facilities known to be utilized by online scam operators used to exploit victims in labor trafficking and financially benefited directly from these crimes."
The report further stated that involvement of "officials and economic elites resulted in selective and politically motivated enforcement of laws, inhibiting effective law enforcement action against trafficking crimes." Cambodia has consistently denied these suggestions, asserting it has "never supported, nor will it ever tolerate, cybercriminal activity" and remains "fully committed to integrity, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law and international norms."
Future Uncertainties
While the recent releases represent a positive development, experts caution that sustained international pressure will be crucial to prevent the industry from simply re-emerging elsewhere. "This industry obviously has gotten to the point where it's sort of too big to fail," Sims observed. "It's a major regime patrimonial resource. What happens from here, a lot of that is going to depend on how sustained and durable this pressure remains against the regime."
The situation remains fluid, with the welfare of thousands of released workers hanging in the balance as international organisations monitor developments and call for comprehensive support systems to prevent retrafficking and ensure genuine rehabilitation for those caught in Cambodia's sprawling scam network.
