53 scam parks in Cambodia exposed, international investigation reveals telecom fraud underworld

On June 26th, a report titled "I Am Someone Else's Property" released by an international organization brought the rampant issue of scam parks in Cambodia to the forefront. This extensive 240-page investigative document systematically reveals the structure and operation of 53 scam parks in Cambodia and has submitted the relevant information to official agencies.

According to the report, during an 18-month investigation, the investigative team visited 52 scam parks in 16 cities across Cambodia, as well as 43 out of 45 highly suspected parks, and interviewed 58 victims from 8 countries, including 9 minors.

The report describes the typical features of these scam parks: most are equipped with high walls, fences, some even with barbed wire and electric fences. The parks are filled with surveillance systems, and security personnel are armed and use tools like electric batons extensively. These parks are not just physical spaces for scam operations but are closed systems centered around a "control person" mechanism.

Inside the parks, there are severe human rights violations, including human trafficking, forced labor, violent abuse, illegal imprisonment, and even enslavement. Many victims are lured into the parks through fake job postings, intermediaries, or illegal smuggling. Once trapped, they are forced to participate in "pig butchering" scams, including fabricated romantic relationships, fake investments, and counterfeit online store transactions. If they fail to meet performance targets or attempt to escape, they face "dark room detention," electric shock punishment, or even being sold to other parks. Some interviewees reported hearing sounds of "bodies falling from the roof at night," and there were threats from management to strip and jump off buildings to instill fear.

The report points out that this information was submitted earlier to the Cambodian National Committee for Counter Trafficking. The agency responded on May 26th, stating that between 2024 and 2025, authorities had launched crackdowns on 28 locations. However, there was no substantial response regarding the detailed list of 53 scam parks and 45 suspected sites provided.

From the report's statistics, among these parks, 20 had at least one intervention by police or military forces, 18 had not been affected at all, 13 might be under investigation, and only 2 parks were actually shut down after law enforcement action.

This report can be seen as the first systematic presentation of the scam park issue in Cambodia, revealing the governance vacuum and corruption behind the scam industry—factors that allow scam activities to continue spreading locally. The report also calls on the Cambodian government and the international community to recognize and jointly combat this transnational, organized crime network.

It is worth mentioning that as early as 2015, the Cambodian Chinese independent media "Angkor Times," which had been expelled from the country, had repeatedly reported on gambling parks and scam activities, gradually bringing this gray industry into public view. Ten years have passed, and the scam game is still ongoing—only now, the risky adventure involves not just the pushers and the house but also more and more "managers" and "system players" who are willingly sinking into it.