Cambodia’s pledge to eliminate online scam centres by April faces a critical test, as experts warn the crackdown will falter unless authorities dismantle powerful networks tied to local elites.

Speaking during a webinar hosted by the Stimson Centre, Jacob Sims of Harvard University described the masterminds behind the fraud hubs as “The Untouchables” — tycoons whose influence has long shielded them from accountability. He welcomed recent raids and arrests, including the deportation of alleged kingpin Chen Zhi, but cautioned that isolated cases will not deliver lasting change.

“Until accountability becomes system-wide towards the elites that are benefiting from this, it can be viewed largely as a token,” Sims said.

The warning comes amid mounting international pressure. Brett Blackshaw of the US State Department highlighted the global scale of the crisis, noting scams cost victims $442 billion in 2025, with Southeast Asia generating about $41 billion annually. He said tens of thousands of Americans have been affected, pushing the issue high on Washington’s foreign policy agenda.

The human toll is equally stark. An estimated 400,000 people from at least 70 countries have been trafficked into scam compounds, often trapped in abusive conditions. Cambodian journalist Mech Dara stressed that victims are “left behind”, urging stronger international coordination against transnational gangs.

Economic consequences are already biting. Bradley Murg of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace said foreign investors are pulling back, with major US firms refusing to do business until the scam crisis is resolved. He warned that growth targets are now at risk, with tourism also suffering.

Both the US and China have applied pressure, coordinating deportations and financial seizures. Yet experts say Cambodia’s challenge lies at home: confronting entrenched interests that profit from the fraud.

For now, authorities have deported hundreds of foreign nationals and vowed to escalate enforcement. But unless the government moves against the “untouchables”, analysts fear the promised elimination of scam centres could stall, leaving Cambodia’s credibility — and its economy — exposed.

-2026-02-09

Yup. Take out the top level else, like 'whack-a-mole', another scam cell will pop up.