Recently, several Japanese media outlets jointly exposed a large enclosed complex near the Vietnam border in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia. The complex appears modern but is actually a hub for telecom fraud, dubbed the "grey empire." It is fully equipped with a casino, supermarket, KTV, nightclub, employee dormitories, and office buildings, operating in a highly organized manner with astonishing development speed.
A 39-year-old Cambodian driver revealed that he had frequently transported Chinese "investors" to the complex, which in reality were involved in fraudulent activities. "Everyone knows it's a scam complex," he said. The area is highly secured, inaccessible to the public, and the employees are almost in a state of "house arrest."
A freelancer who transports building materials mentioned that the site was originally a rubber plantation. Since the entry of Chinese capital, it has been rapidly developed, and now even Chinese-funded hospitals and Chinese restaurants using the yuan have been established, making the surrounding area resemble a small Chinese city.
Although local officials claim the complex has created about 50,000 jobs, many constructions are suspected to be linked to fraudulent activities. An official once suggested investigating the interior of the complex but was dismissed by provincial senior officials with a "no need to worry." He admitted, "Although it looks like an investment project, something feels off."
The situation in Poipet city on the Cambodia-Thailand border is also severe. In recent years, the city has seen the rise of large hotels with casinos and signs in simplified Chinese characters. In May this year, local police arrested 29 Japanese involved in fraud, finding connections to a transnational fraud organization with Chinese backgrounds. Japanese police have dispatched officers to Cambodia for a joint investigation.
Despite the Cambodian government's declared determination to combat this, data shows that over the past three years, 24,000 people involved in fraud and human trafficking cases have been dealt with, including more than 4,800 foreigners. However, a report released by a human rights organization in June pointed out that there might be cooperation or tacit understanding between Cambodian authorities and groups with Chinese backgrounds. Many exposed scam complexes are still operational, leading to doubts about the effectiveness of law enforcement and warnings that Cambodia could become a new global hotspot for telecom fraud.
As telecom fraud bases in Myanmar gradually disintegrate, international fraud groups are quickly shifting their operations to Cambodia. Behind the prosperity of these complexes lies a larger, more secretive transnational criminal network. The international community is highly alert, with more investigations and actions underway.
