Cambodia to keep up crackdown on scam centers after arrest of alleged mastermind

Festival Organizers Mastering Cambodia's Crackdown on Scam Centers After Chen Zhi's Arrest

Cambodia's arrest of alleged scam center kingpin Chen Zhi and his extradition to China was not the end of the Southeast Asian nation's battle to stamp out transborder crimes, its top diplomat said.

Last week's surprise arrest of Chinese-born Chen is a key step in a still-fragmented international campaign targeting sophisticated scam networks in Southeast Asia run by criminal gangs, swindling victims worldwide out of billions of dollars.

In an interview with VOA Khmer, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong acknowledged the country has made strides in curbing such crimes but said more needs to be done. He said authorities have been trying to work with other governments and international organizations to find solutions to end these scams that affect millions globally.

Of course we need to do more, he said. We will not stop there.

In recent years, Cambodia has emerged as a major hub for transnational criminal groups targeting victims in North America, Europe and Australia. Police have reported seizing $40 million worth of equipment used by cybercriminals last year alone.

The scam network allegedly run by Chen's group targeted victims through phone calls, luring them to invest in non-existent get-rich-quick schemes before taking their money. The scams have tricked tens of thousands of people worldwide out of billions of dollars over the past decade.

Chen was arrested on June 17 while trying to fly from Cambodia to Malaysia and is now awaiting extradition to China.

Cambodia has extradited several Chinese nationals implicated in transnational cybercrime cases, including one case involving the alleged mastermind of a global scam network that cost victims more than $50 million over five years.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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