Hailey
Scammers’ Abandoned Cambodian Compound: In a quiet corner near the Thai-Cambodian border, a scam compound lay abandoned. But the chaos left behind tells a story of global cybercrime and how ordinary people are targeted by criminals.
From fake police offices to love scams, the site exposes both the brutality and banality of modern fraud.
Reporters visiting the site found papers, computers, and even staged offices meant to trick victims in Singapore, Australia, Brazil, and Vietnam. Among the abandoned materials were details of victims, scripts for scams, and financial records—a shocking glimpse into a fraud factory that had made billions.
How the Scam Compound Operated
The abandoned compound, called Royal Hill, showed how organized and industrialized fraud operations have become in Southeast Asia. The rooms were staged to resemble real police or bank offices to trick people into sending money.
Example of Victims Found
| Victim | Age | Country | Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese retiree | 73 | Japan | Almost shared bank details over a fake electricity call |
| American woman | 40s | USA | Victim of domestic abuse |
| Various others | Mixed | Multiple countries | Targeted by love and police scams |
Reporters confirmed some of the documents, including calls and logs, showing how scammers extract sensitive information. One Japanese retiree admitted he almost gave personal banking details after a fake electricity call.
Management and Operations
Documents in Chinese suggested that Royal Hill’s management leased out rooms to different scamming groups. Rent ranged in thousands of dollars per month, and strict rules were enforced:
- No outsiders loitering near the compound
- No food deliveries that might reveal operations
- Mandatory anti-riot and emergency drills for workers
- Rules for “civilized” behavior: clothes, conduct, and no illegal activity
Some of the scammers were late on rent, while financial records showed transactions involving cryptocurrency wallets linked to gambling and other high-risk sites.
The Human Cost
Many workers in these compounds are trafficking victims, forced to live in harsh conditions. A former Madagascar worker said he was allowed to leave only after Thailand’s military bombed the area and the compound returned his passport.
Thailand’s military strikes in December 2025, along with Cambodian government action, forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee. Some ended up at embassies in Phnom Penh, seeking help to return home. Amnesty International called it a humanitarian crisis.
Global Impact of Southeast Asian Scam Centers
Southeast Asia has become a hub for cyberfraud, often run by Chinese criminal gangs. Foreign governments, including the United States, have pressured countries to crack down. In 2024, the U.S. estimated Americans lost $10 billion to scam centers in the region.
Experts warn that even after raids, scammers often relocate and restart smaller operations elsewhere.
Delphine Schantz from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime explained, “We see those scam centers now kind of mushrooming all over the world in different places, along the same model as Southeast Asia.”
Key Fraud Tactics Observed
| Tactic | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Fake police or bank offices | Convince victims of legitimacy |
| Love scam scripts | Exploit emotions to get money |
| Threat calls (electricity, fines) | Pressure victims to share personal info |
| Cryptocurrency wallets | Hide stolen money and launder funds |
| Strict compound rules | Control staff and prevent exposure |
Scammers’ Abandoned Cambodian Compound: The abandoned Royal Hill compound exposes the scale and sophistication of global scams. It shows how criminals target vulnerable people using fake offices, emotional manipulation, and high-tech methods like cryptocurrency.
Raids and military action in Cambodia highlight the human cost behind these scams, with trafficking victims and displaced workers caught in the middle.
Southeast Asia remains a critical point in the global fight against cybercrime, but scammers are constantly adapting, making vigilance and international cooperation more important than ever.