Cambodia says it has dismantled all major online scam compounds identified during its nationwide crackdown. However, authorities warn that criminal networks are moving into smaller and more mobile locations.
Chhay Sinarith, chairman of the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams, told state-run Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) that major scam centres had ceased operating. This followed enforcement actions from mid-2025 through August 2026.
Scam Networks Move to Smaller Sites
According to Chhay Sinarith, syndicates are increasingly relocating to rented houses, apartments, condominiums, cafés and mobile sites.
The shift creates new challenges for authorities because smaller operations are more difficult to identify. Additionally, they can move more quickly than large, established compounds.
The crackdown has also affected operations linked to casino properties. Authorities recently took journalists to the Golden Galaxy casino in Bavet, near the Vietnamese border. There, provincial officials said part of the property had been subleased to two Vietnamese nationals who allegedly used it to conduct online scam activities.
Authorities detained 244 suspects during the raid and formally charged three alleged ringleaders.
663 Locations Raided
Cambodian authorities said they raided 663 suspected scam locations between July 2025 and August 2026.
The campaign resulted in the closure of 86 major compounds. It also led to the freezing of more than $300 million in bank accounts allegedly linked to the networks.
Casino regulation has also come under scrutiny. Svay Rieng province has 28 registered casinos. Meanwhile, authorities have revoked three casino licences and begun proceedings to revoke a fourth. AKP did not specify whether all four cases were directly connected to scam operations.
Enforcement Faces Network Challenges
Despite the large-scale enforcement campaign, transnational crime analyst Jacob Sims told AFP that the wider infrastructure supporting the scam industry remains in place. This includes buildings, financial institutions and corporate networks.
The movement toward smaller sites could therefore require authorities to expand their focus beyond large compounds. They may also need to monitor the financial and corporate structures supporting online criminal networks.
Cambodia is scheduled to host an international conference on combating online scams on September 23 and 24. This event will bring further attention to regional cooperation and enforcement against cross-border cybercrime.
