BANGKOK – Cambodia deported 119 Thai nationals on March 1 as part of an ongoing regional effort to dismantle illegal cyber-scam operations. The group, consisting of 61 men and 58 women, was handed over at the Poipet border crossing after being detained in February raids targeting scam centres.
According to Cambodia’s immigration department, the individuals had entered the country illegally to work in fraudulent online operations. They were among 230 foreign nationals arrested in Poipet on February 22 and 23.
Cyber-scam centres, which exploit foreign workers to run online fraud schemes such as romance scams and fake crypto investments, have flourished across Southeast Asia. Cambodian authorities launched large-scale crackdowns in late 2022, with ongoing efforts to dismantle these illicit networks.
The deportations coincided with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Sa Kaeo, near the Cambodian border, where she vowed to “eliminate call centre gangs.” Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the return of the 119 Thais, stating they had been involved in online fraud operations. Both Cambodian and Thai officials asserted that the individuals had voluntarily participated in scam activities in exchange for payment.
Poipet, a well-known casino hub, has become a hotspot for cyber-scams and illegal online gambling. The crackdown extends beyond Cambodia, with Myanmar and Thailand intensifying efforts to curb the billion-dollar scam industry. The United Nations estimates that up to 120,000 people may be involved in cyber-scams in Myanmar alone, with many workers reporting that they were deceived by job offers and then trapped in forced labor conditions.
Meanwhile, Indonesia announced on March 1 that 84 of its citizens who had been working in cyber-scam centres in Myanmar were repatriated via Thailand. This follows an earlier repatriation of 46 Indonesians in February, bringing the total number of returnees to 140. Authorities warn that thousands of Indonesians have been lured abroad with promises of high-paying jobs, only to find themselves ensnared in transnational fraud networks.