Cambodia Cracks Down on Online Scams, Raiding Over 200 Locations and Expelling Thousands of Foreigners

In Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province, over 200 locations used for online scams have been raided in less than seven months this year, leading to the expulsion of tens of thousands of foreigners, according to provincial governor Oum Ratry. The province, bordering Thailand, has seen its areas like Poipet city become hotspots for such criminal activities. Joint operations involving the provincial police and the provincial unified command have intensified efforts to crack down on online fraud across the province's nine districts and cities. Particularly in Poipet city, Malai, O'Chrou, and Svay Chek districts, over 200 sites were targeted. These operations resulted in the apprehension of tens of thousands of foreigners, with some being detained in prison. Furthermore, thousands of foreign nationals, including those from China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, were repatriated through the General Department of Immigration. Some of the raided locations housed between 100 to 200 foreigners, with certain sites accommodating up to 2,000 individuals. The crackdown on large-scale operations has reportedly led to a shift towards smaller, more dispersed activities within residential areas and other districts, with an increase in Cambodian nationals participating in these schemes. Authorities in Banteay Meanchey are actively disseminating information on the law against online fraud and decrees concerning the management and security of residential areas to owners of such facilities. The law on combating online fraud, enacted on April 6, 2026, carries penalties including life imprisonment, a fine of $500,000 USD, and confiscation of all assets from offenders and their families. Authorities are focused on detaining and prosecuting foreign masterminds, while also investigating Cambodian nationals involved in these criminal enterprises, with potential for temporary closure of scam locations and asset confiscation. Information Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local