For much of the past three years, Cambodia has occupied an uncomfortable position in global news: home to some of the world's largest and most sophisticated online fraud operations. In early 2026, the Cambodian government launched the most significant crackdown the country has ever seen. The results have been dramatic — and the situation continues to evolve.
What Are Scam Centers?
Online scam centers — also called cyber fraud compounds — are large-scale criminal operations that employ people, many against their will, to run online fraud schemes targeting victims globally. The operations typically involve cryptocurrency investment scams ("pig butchering"), romance fraud, fake loan schemes, and impersonation of banks and law enforcement.
The UN estimated in 2024 that between 100,000 and 150,000 people were being held in Cambodian compounds under conditions of forced labor, having been lured with fake job offers — often through social media and Telegram — and then trapped. Operations were estimated to generate $12.5 to $19 billion annually, potentially representing up to 35% of Cambodia's GDP.
"The workers didn't come to Cambodia to commit fraud. Most came looking for a legitimate job and found something very different when they arrived."
The 2026 Crackdown
The crackdown began in earnest in late 2025 and accelerated dramatically in early 2026, following US sanctions and the extradition of an alleged scam kingpin. By February 2026, senior minister Chhay Sinarith — head of the newly created Commission for Combating Online Scams — reported that nearly 200 compounds had been sealed, 173 senior figures arrested, and approximately 11,000 workers deported.
By mid-2026, the total deportation figure had reached 48,000 foreign nationals since the broader campaign began in 2023. Cambodia simultaneously drafted its first law specifically targeting online scam operations — with penalties ranging up to life imprisonment in cases involving death.
The government also worked closely with China and South Korea — two of the countries most affected by scam operations — on joint enforcement actions. In May 2026, six Chinese nationals were sentenced to life imprisonment by a Kampot court for the murder of a South Korean national lured to a scam center.
What This Means for Travellers
For the vast majority of tourists and expats in Cambodia, scam centers have never posed a direct safety risk. They operate in specific areas — historically concentrated in Sihanoukville, Poipet, Bavet and certain border zones — and are entirely separate from Cambodia's mainstream tourist and expat infrastructure.
What the crackdown has changed is the broader perception of Cambodia as a destination, and — more concretely — the profile of certain border towns and coastal areas that were previously known more for backpacker travel than criminal enterprise.
Be extremely cautious of job offers received via social media, Telegram, or WhatsApp — particularly those promising high salaries in customer service, IT, or "online marketing" with accommodation included. Legitimate employers in Cambodia do not recruit this way. If a job offer sounds too good to be true, verify independently before traveling. Contact your embassy before departing.
Where Things Stand in June 2026
The government's stated goal was to shut down all scam operations by end of April 2026. Enforcement has been substantial, but analysts warn that operations may simply relocate — to other parts of Cambodia, or to neighbouring countries with weaker enforcement. The underlying criminal networks remain intact, and human trafficking experts note that freed workers often receive little immediate support.
For Cambodia's reputation, however, the crackdown has been significant. International pressure — particularly from the US, China, and South Korea — combined with domestic legislation suggests this is not a temporary posture. The country's new Techo International Airport and broader tourism ambitions also give the government clear incentive to demonstrate rule of law.