Cambodia cracks down on online scams and closes illegal casinos

11 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 24

From July 2025 to mid-April 2026, authorities acted on over 250 scam cases, closed 91 casinos, and prosecuted 1,089 suspects of multiple nationalities in 112 court cases.
The government has intensified enforcement, enacted a new Law on Combating Online Scams, and conducted large-scale deportations as part of a nationwide campaign.
Cambodia, under Prime Minister Hun Manet, opposes the term 'Scambodia,' emphasizing that criminal networks are transnational and expanding cooperation with international partners, including the FBI, to address cybercrime.

As Cambodia cracks down, where are these sophisticated online scam networks relocating to next?

After extraditing kingpins to China, what does this signal for U.S. anti-crime cooperation?

With billions seized from scam networks, will any money ever be returned to victims?

Is Cambodia's war on scams a genuine reform or just 'elite risk management'?

How are authorities distinguishing between criminals and the thousands of victims they enslaved?