Thousands of foreigners have left areas suspected to be scammer centers in Cambodia over the past month following the arrest of Chen Zhu and Cambodia's promise to crack down.
Foreign news agencies reported on 19 Jan 2026 that thousands of foreigners have fled locations suspected to be criminal compounds across Cambodia this month amid a heavy crackdown after the arrest of Chen Zhu, accused of leading a scammer network.
Criminal groups operating from hubs throughout Southeast Asia, including both willing workers and those lured into human trafficking, have deceived internet users worldwide through romance scams and fraudulent digital currency investments, causing tens of billions of dollars in damages annually.
Thousands of foreigners have left suspected scam centers across Cambodia this month as the government pledged to "eradicate" issues related to online fraud businesses, which the United Nations (UN) estimates employ at least 100,000 people in Cambodia alone.
The Indonesian government announced on Monday (19 Jan) that over 400 Indonesians have been "released" from online criminal networks in Cambodia this month.
Santo Darmosumarto, the Indonesian ambassador to Cambodia, said in a video posted on social media that recent Cambodian law enforcement measures have resulted in "many online criminal groups... releasing their workers."
An Instagram post by Santo stated that between 1 and 18 January, 440 Indonesians came to the embassy in Phnom Penh, most expressing a desire to return home.
"As Cambodia's crackdown continues, the embassy expects a significant increase in people arriving from provinces," Santo said, noting that some who came to the embassy "have been involved in online scams for many years, while others have only been in Cambodia a few months."
"Some still hold their passports, but others have had them confiscated by criminal groups. Some are overstayers, while others have valid Cambodian residence permits" and hope to "find other jobs," he added.
Santo said the embassy will expedite repatriation processes, but all Indonesians "are advised to arrange their own travel back home," also warning against involvement in criminal activities abroad.
An 18-year-old Indonesian man from Sumatra said he escaped a scam compound in Bavet near the Cambodia-Vietnam border where he was forced to deceive people online for eight months without pay, despite promises of a $600 monthly salary (about 20,000 baht).
He told AFP he arrived in Phnom Penh on Sunday and went to the embassy to apply for a new passport because his original was "with the Chinese boss," adding, "They heard the police were about to raid the compound, so they released everyone."
Additionally, on Monday afternoon, about 100 people were seen queuing outside the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh, but those AFP approached declined to provide information.
Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a regular press briefing when asked about the crowds outside the embassy in Cambodia that the Beijing government "places great importance on the safety of Chinese citizens abroad," without providing further details.
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Source:cna