Cambodia has failed to dismantle its expanding online scam industry despite a nationwide crackdown launched with the stated aim of eliminating cyberfraud networks, according to a new report by Amnesty International. The findings challenge official government claims that the campaign has significantly reduced criminal operations across the country.
The report states that 86 scam compounds were operating across Cambodia as of April, up from 53 a year earlier, indicating an increase rather than a decline in activity. Amnesty International also found evidence of state intervention at only 24 sites, despite official assertions that authorities had taken action against more than 250 scam centers nationwide during the enforcement drive.
The Cambodian government has maintained that its crackdown has produced substantial results. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith said in February that online scam activity had been reduced by half and would be fully resolved by April. Authorities have also reported thousands of arrests, prosecutions, and deportations linked to the operation. However, Amnesty International said these claims are not supported by its findings, which suggest that much of the industry remains intact.
The scam compounds identified in Cambodia are part of a wider regional cyberfraud network that has spread across parts of Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Laos. These facilities are often linked to trafficking operations in which individuals are forced to carry out online fraud targeting victims globally, according to rights groups and security researchers.
Amnesty International said the crackdown has been ineffective in dismantling key sites and has failed to adequately protect individuals who were rescued or escaped. The organization also reported that many of those freed were treated as immigration offenders rather than victims of trafficking, leaving them without consistent access to support services. Survivors have reportedly relied on charities, local communities, and foreign embassies for basic assistance, including food and shelter.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet launched the nationwide campaign in July, framing scam networks as a threat to the country’s legitimate economy. While the operation has resulted in arrests and disruption of some sites, Amnesty International concluded that systemic weaknesses in enforcement and victim protection have allowed large parts of the industry to continue operating.
Independent experts have also raised concerns about the effectiveness of the crackdown. Julia Dickson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said enforcement efforts appear in some cases to be “performative,” suggesting that advance warning may allow operators to avoid significant disruption. She added that scam operations may be shifting away from large compounds in border areas toward smaller, harder-to-detect facilities in urban locations or relocating to other countries.
Reports also indicate that displacement from raids may be contributing to further trafficking risks. Some individuals who escape or are released reportedly become vulnerable to being reabsorbed into other scam operations, often due to lack of transport, legal status, or support networks. Analysts warn this creates a cycle of repeated exploitation within the country’s evolving scam ecosystem.
Stephanie Baroud of Interpol said evidence suggests scam compounds are fragmenting into smaller units, including operations embedded in residential areas. She stated that while enforcement actions have occurred, the underlying infrastructure supporting scam networks remains in place, enabling continued activity.
According to Amnesty International, the persistence of these networks highlights a gap between official enforcement claims and conditions on the ground. The organization concluded that despite visible crackdowns and reported arrests, the scam industry continues to adapt and expand, raising concerns about ongoing trafficking risks and the resilience of cyberfraud operations in Cambodia.
