Cambodia is intensifying efforts to identify and prosecute the key figures behind extensive cyber fraud operations, according to Chhay Sinarith, the minister leading the country’s anti-scam commission. Speaking on the sidelines of a global anti-scam conference held Thursday in Phnom Penh, Chhay emphasized the complexity and time required to build legal cases against masterminds, enablers, and protectors of these fraud networks.

“Legal action, whether it involves the mastermind, the co-conspirator, owner, enabler, or protector, requires time and evidence,” he said. Chhay highlighted the importance of international cooperation, noting that shared intelligence from global partners has allowed authorities to take action against some suspects. He also cautioned against prematurely publicizing investigations, which he said could lead to suspects fleeing the country.

The conference brought together representatives from more than a dozen countries, including the United States and China, to discuss strategies for addressing an industry that has severely damaged Cambodia’s reputation and economic stability. Cambodia and other Southeast Asian nations have become hotspots for large-scale scam operations, where workers are trafficked and coerced into committing online fraud under harsh conditions.

In 2024, scam compounds in the region were estimated by U.S. officials to have defrauded American victims of approximately US$10 billion. Last month, Chhay claimed that Cambodia had dismantled all major scam compounds as part of a year-long crackdown, although no comprehensive list of raided sites has been released.

Despite these claims, independent analysts remain skeptical. John Wojcik, a senior analyst at blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, noted that many sizable scam operations continue to function. “It’s clear that many large compounds remain active despite other operators clearing out and dispersing into smaller, decentralized sites,” Wojcik said. He added that the underlying infrastructure—including payment systems, money-laundering networks, and facilitators—still operates at scale.

Authorities have also widened their inquiry into the financial networks linked to Prince Group, a Cambodian conglomerate accused by U.S. officials of acting as a front for multi-billion-dollar cyber fraud and money laundering. The group’s founder, Chen Zhi, a Chinese national, was arrested in Cambodia and deported to China earlier this year.

Reporters touring facilities outside Phnom Penh confirmed that Cambodian officials have identified several large scam centers connected to Prince Group, describing them as massive complexes housing thousands of workers engaged in fraudulent activities. The continued investigations underscore the ongoing challenges facing Cambodian authorities as they attempt to dismantle these entrenched networks.