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PHNOM PENH — Cambodian authorities have uncovered a sophisticated network of online scam operations disguised as legitimate businesses, complete with meticulously crafted facades intended to deceive both victims and authorities. The discovery highlights the growing problem of transnational cybercrime and the lengths to which criminal organizations will go to perpetrate fraud.
A rare glimpse inside one such complex in Kampot revealed rows of computers, scripts used to manipulate victims, and props designed to build trust with targets. The operation appeared to mimic a professional office environment, according to reports from Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
The facilities included a studio designed for video calls, featuring a false police station set resembling an Indian law enforcement office. This was used by scammers to impersonate legal officials and intimidate victims into transferring funds. Similar setups, including fake police stations from various countries and extensive scamming manuals, have been found at other compounds near the Thai border, some of which were previously targeted in airstrikes.
The investigation comes as the Cambodian government has launched a large-scale crackdown on online scam centers. Chhay Sinarith, chairman of Cambodia’s National Committee for Combating Online Fraud, stated that approximately 190 scam locations have been shut down to date. The operation, which began late last year, has resulted in the arrest of 173 senior figures and the deportation of at least 11,000 workers.
The intensified efforts followed the arrest of Ly Kuong, a Chinese-born tycoon believed to be a key figure in the scam networks. His arrest triggered a mass exodus of workers from various casino complexes, many of whom were reportedly victims of human trafficking and had been held in brutal conditions.
However, authorities are now struggling to manage the fallout from the crackdown, as thousands of workers attempt to flee. In Kampot province alone, an estimated 7,000 workers have escaped, overwhelming local security forces.
“We only have about 1,000 police officers throughout the province and around 300 military police,” said Mao Chanmothurith, Kampot’s police chief, during a government-organized visit. “Even combined, we cannot stop them since their numbers are around 6,000 to 7,000 as they abandon this place.”
Properti kantor polisi palsu
Petugas menunjukkan fasilitas yang dirancang sangat detail untuk menipu.
Selain deretan komputer dan dokumen panduan menipu, ditemukan bilik studio khusus untuk melakukan panggilan video.
Bilik tersebut tidak biasa, isinya adalah dekorasi kantor polisi India palsu.
Ruangan ini digunakan anggota sindikat untuk menyamar sebagai petugas hukum guna mengintimidasi korban agar mengirimkan sejumlah uang.
Penampakan serupa, termasuk kantor polisi palsu dari berbagai negara dan tumpukan dokumen panduan juga ditemukan di pusat scam Kamboja yang berbatasan dengan Thailand dan sempat menjadi target serangan udara.
Kunjungan ini terjadi di tengah operasi besar-besaran pemerintah Kamboja untuk menutup pusat-pusat penipuan daring.
Baca juga: China Adili 11.000 Warga yang Dipulangkan dari Sindikat Scam Myanmar
Hampir 200 lokasi scam ditutup
Ketua Komisi Kamboja untuk Pemberantasan Penipuan Daring, Chhay Sinarith, menyatakan bahwa hingga saat ini sudah ada sekitar 190 lokasi sindikat yang ditutup.
Operasi yang dimulai sejak akhir tahun lalu ini telah menjaring 173 petinggi senior dan mendeportasi sedikitnya 11.000 pekerja.
Penindakan ini semakin intensif setelah penangkapan seorang gembong besar kelahiran China, Ly Kuong.
Penangkapan taipan tersebut memicu eksodus besar-besaran dari para pekerja di berbagai kompleks kasino.
Banyak dari mereka dilaporkan sebagai korban perdagangan manusia yang sebelumnya disekap dalam kondisi brutal.
Baca juga: Singapura Latih Warga Hadapi Scam, Gelar Simulasi Massal Senegara
Polisi kewalahan hadapi pekerja yang kabur
Meskipun sukses membongkar pusat operasi, aparat keamanan Kamboja mengaku kewalahan saat para pekerja mulai melarikan diri secara massal setelah pimpinan mereka ditangkap.
Di Provinsi Kampot saja, jumlah pekerja yang melarikan diri mencapai angka 7.000 orang, sementara jumlah personel keamanan tidak sebanding.
“Kami hanya memiliki sekitar 1.000 polisi di seluruh provinsi dan ada sekitar 300 polisi militer,” kata kepala polisi provinsi Kampot, Mao Chanmothurith, selama kunjungan yang diselenggarakan pemerintah.
“Bahkan dengan gabungan kedua pasukan, kami tetap tidak dapat menghentikan mereka karena jumlah mereka sekitar 6.000 hingga 7.000 ketika mereka meninggalkan tempat ini,” sambungnya.
Baca juga: Bersih-bersih, Kamboja Tutup Hampir 200 Pusat Sindikat Scam
