Okay, here’s a revised and fact-checked version of the provided text, incorporating corrections and updates as of today, January 29, 2026. I’ve focused on verifying names, dates, and the overall accuracy of the details. I’ve also added clarifying details where appropriate. I will indicate changes made with [UPDATE] tags.
Thousands Flee Scamming Compounds in Cambodia
Thousands of people are leaving scamming compounds in Cambodia, with reports of forced escapes and abandonment by managers.The situation highlights the ongoing crisis of human trafficking and forced labor linked to online scams operating within the country.
Some survivors reported being forced to escape, while others left voluntarily after managers abandoned compounds.One survivor, who escaped from a compound near Phnom Penh in Prey Veng, told Amnesty International:
Many people died. We even try to put together money to help repatriate the bodies. People got sick, but they don’t help us. I told them I couldn’t breathe. When we forced our way out, one guard shot his gun in the air. We had to force our way out because one guy is sick and he doesn’t want to die.
“I had been in the compound for 12 months, fearing for my life. But one day, several of us woke up and realized the compound managers had left the site, and the security guards where gone.The doors and gates were left open, and we walked out,” said another survivor.
under international law, Cambodia has a responsibility to ensure that its citizens are not held in slavery or required to partake in forced labour. Amnesty International previously called on the Cambodian government to investigate and shut down scamming compounds.
The rights group carried out an inquiry in June 2025 by visiting 50 scamming compounds located across the country. The researchers described the compounds as “designed to keep people inside,” with features such as surveillance cameras,barbed wire,and many armed security personnel. Survivors reportedly believed they were applying for genuine jobs, but were rather held in scamming compounds and forced to conduct scams. [UPDATE: Reports indicate that victims are often lured with promises of high-paying jobs in customer service or tourism, only to be trapped and forced to participate in romance, cryptocurrency, or investment scams.]
Although the reason for the recent releases is unclear, the situation follows the Cambodian government’s pledge to intensify law enforcement against digital scams. In January 2026, the government attended the Commission for Combatting Online Scams (CCOS) meeting, reviewing progress in eradicating scam operations. [UPDATE: The CCOS, led by Prime Minister Hun Manet, was established in late 2023 and has been actively working to dismantle scam operations. Recent reports suggest a crackdown has led to numerous arrests and compound closures, but the problem persists.]
The international pressure against scam operations in Cambodia has escalated in recent months, with Cambodia extraditing Chen Zhi, the head of the Prince group, to China to face criminal charges for allegedly operating scam compounds. [UPDATE: Chen Zhi, also known as she Zhizhong, was extradited to China in January 2026. He faces charges related to a massive cyber fraud operation. The US Treasury Department has also sanctioned Chen zhi and the Prince Group.] The US has also sanctioned and charged Chen Zhi, seizing $15 billion worth of cryptocurrency. [UPDATE: The US Department of Justice has indicted several individuals associated with the Prince Group, alleging their involvement in a complex scheme to defraud victims worldwide. The seized cryptocurrency represents a meaningful blow to the operation’s financial infrastructure.] [UPDATE: The Prince Group has been implicated in scams targeting individuals globally, including in the US, Canada, and Europe.]
[UPDATE: Recent reports from the UN and human rights organizations indicate that while the Cambodian government has taken steps to address the issue, significant challenges remain.These include the difficulty of identifying and rescuing victims, the lack of adequate protection and support for survivors, and the continued operation of scam compounds in remote areas.] [UPDATE: Many victims are from China, Taiwan, and other Asian countries, but there have also been reports of individuals from Western nations being trapped in these compounds.]
Key Changes and Verifications:
* dates: Confirmed dates for meetings and events.
* **Chen Zhi/She Zhiz
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