Cambodia

How South-east Asia became home to the world’s scam farms

(FILES) This aerial photo taken on September 17, 2025 shows the KK Park complex in Myanmar's eastern Myawaddy township, as pictured from Mae Sot district in Thailand's border province of Tak. China is moving against the cyberscam tycoons making fortunes in Southeast Asia, driven by mounting public pressure and Beijing's desire to keep control of judicial processes, analysts say.
In 2025, a series of crackdowns largely driven by Beijing -- which wields significant economic and diplomatic influence in the region -- saw thousands of workers released from scam centres in Myanmar and Cambodia and repatriated to their home countries, many of them to China.
Now Beijing has turned its focus to the bosses at the apex of the criminal pyramids, netting its biggest player so far with the arrest and extradition of Chen Zhi from Cambodia in January 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) / TO GO WITH Cambodia-China-cybercrime-diplomacy, FOCUS by Sally JENSEN

ASEAN calls Middle East escalation ‘regrettable’, urges ceasefire after US-Israel strike on Iran

A tall plume of black smoke ascends following an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone on March 3, 2026.

Taiwan indicts 62 over suspected scam centre operator Prince Group

Luxury cars to be auctioned off are on display in Taiwan.

Cambodian authorities detain 81 scam suspects in capital raid; claim more than 220,000 have fled

The authorities detained 81 people and seized phones, computers and wigs.

Cambodia welcomes back dozens of artefacts looted by UK trafficker

People attend a ceremony for the return of 74 Khmer cultural objects to Cambodia.

Thai soldier loses leg in landmine blast on Cambodia border

A Thai soldier stands guard during a military organised tour near Klong Paeng, in an area now controlled by the Thai forces following the border conflict with Cambodia on Feb 5.

Cambodia claims its crackdown has halved online scam activity

Criminal syndicates are accused of running online investment and romance scams and illegal gambling operations.

Scam centres ‘destroying’ Cambodia’s economy, PM tells AFP

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet speaking to AFP in Brussels on Feb 25.

Cambodia wants ‘de-escalation’ in conflict with Thailand, PM tells AFP

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet speaks during an interview with AFP in Brussels on February 25, 2026. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet told AFP that scam centres were destroying his country's economy giving the nation a bad name -- pushing back on allegations of government connivance. The nation has emerged as a hotspot for crime syndicates running a multibillion-dollar fraud industry that sees scammers lure internet users globally into fake romantic relationships and cryptocurrency investments. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)

Kenyans trapped in Cambodia by trafficking scheme seek government aid to return home

E-paper

Newsletters

Podcasts

RSS Feed

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Need help? Reach us here.

Advertise with us

MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.