Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) Phnom Penh police recently conducted a special raid, successfully dismantling a transnational online fraud ring operating in Sen Sok district. Fifteen Bangladeshi suspects were arrested on the spot, and a large quantity of tools used in the crimes and related evidence were seized.
On the afternoon of March 14, under the meticulous planning and direct command of Phnom Penh Mayor Khun Sreng and Phnom Penh Police Chief Lieutenant General Chuon Narin, the Sen Sok district government, in conjunction with relevant departments, carried out the raid. The Deputy Prosecutor of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court participated throughout the operation, assisting in ensuring the legality, compliance, and rigorous standards of the legal proceedings.
At the scene of the operation, law enforcement officers arrested 15 Bangladeshi men suspected of online fraud at the suspected location in Sen Sok district. Multiple computers, mobile phones, and various communication devices were seized as evidence, completely destroying the foundation of the fraud ring.
According to a statement released by the National Anti-Cyber Fraud Committee, the fraud gang's methods were covert and highly deceptive. The suspects impersonated World Bank employees, using the software Canva to create fake promotional materials and illegally misusing the World Bank's official logo to gain the trust of victims. They then used social media platforms such as Facebook and Telegram to post fake high-interest loan information, enticing victims to apply for so-called "loans" from overseas regions such as Bangladesh, thus committing financial fraud.
The National Crime Investigation Department stated in its case report that as the Cambodian government continues to intensify its crackdown on telecommunications and online fraud, the space for fraud gangs to operate is constantly being squeezed. Currently, this type of fraud has shifted from large-scale industrial operations to a "small-scale, highly concealed" modus operandi, with criminal dens often hidden in hotels, apartments, or private residences, attempting to evade police pursuit through dispersed deployments.
Currently, 15 suspects and all related evidence have been transferred to the Phnom Penh Police Department. Police are further verifying the suspects' backgrounds and investigating the entire criminal chain, and will subsequently file charges in court to hold them legally accountable.
Cambodian authorities reiterated that they will maintain a "zero-tolerance" attitude towards online fraud, continue to intensify their crackdown efforts, severely punish any individuals or groups that use Cambodian territory to carry out illegal fraud activities, and make every effort to maintain social security and stability and financial market order in the region.
