Cambodia Cracks Down on Online Scam: South Korean Nationals Arrested

Cambodian police have arrested 57 South Korean nationals linked to an online scam organization. The arrests, involving a raid, coincide with a South Korean parliamentary inspection amid reports of employment scams. Repatriations began following public outrage over a related death. Online scams in Southeast Asia have surged post-pandemic.

In a significant crackdown, Cambodian authorities arrested 57 South Korean nationals suspected of being part of an online scam network operating in Phnom Penh.

The operation occurred during a high-profile raid near the Cambodian capital, involving 86 individuals, including 29 Chinese nationals.

The arrests come amidst heightened scrutiny from a visiting group of South Korean lawmakers following reports of exploitation and forced labor involving their nationals. This latest development is part of an ongoing effort to dismantle scam rings in Southeast Asia, a region where such fraudulent activities have proliferated during the pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies.)