Thai victims who fled the Poipet scammer network in Cambodia open up, urging the government to assist stranded victims at risk of retaliation and torture linked to human trafficking. They point out distorted Cambodian news and reveal the truth behind the life-threatening abuse.
Reports from Cambodian sources detailed an incident on 3 Dec 2025 at building A-110, Borey San Chhon Ho, Village 4, Sankat Porsar, Kandal District, Poipet, where a group of Thai individuals attacked Cambodian security guards, resulting in one guard's death. The claim was that delayed food delivery angered the Thai group, prompting violence against the guards. Later, Cambodia’s defense authorities stated that Poipet does not host scammer operations as reported.
Thairath Online's special reporting team investigated and spoke with Thai victims who recounted being deceived into working as website admins. Some were promised jobs near the border province but were instead taken to San Ho village, known as a holding site for victims subjected to facial scanning to create mule accounts and launder money for the scammer network.
They confirmed Cambodian reports claiming no detention, money laundering, gambling operations, or physical abuse at the site are false. Everyone brought there was confined in rooms awaiting facial scans to create mule accounts.
On the day of the incident, about 40 Thai people were inside the building, guarded securely. The gang had a Chinese boss overseeing operations who enforced work compliance through electric shocks or physical beatings if victims resisted, causing fear and prompting the Thai victims to plan an escape.
The escape plan involved Thai male victims restraining the security guard at the door to allow six female victims to flee. However, Cambodian guards used electric shock devices to attack, forcing the Thai victims to defend themselves.
Following this, some Thai female victims hesitated to escape for fear of recapture and further abuse, though some managed to flee. Those who defended themselves were caught and taken to a Cambodian police station.
A Thai victim at the scene told reporters that Cambodian media reports claiming hungry Thai victims attacked security staff are untrue; in reality, everyone was trying to escape to save themselves.
Meanwhile, those who fled were recaptured and returned to the building, where female Thai victims were sold to another scammer gang, leaving many victims without aid and at risk of further torture by this gang.
The reporting team asked surviving victims what assistance they seek from authorities. Sources revealed they want the Thai government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with Cambodia to help Thai victims, some of whom are held by Cambodian police despite not being involved in the incident, as the Chinese boss seeks to scapegoat Thai men.
Female victims wish to be rescued back to Thailand, as they have been sold on. These women range in age from 19 to 30 and face significant risk of becoming victims of human trafficking in Cambodia.
