South Koreans freed from Cambodian scam centres return home under arrest

South Korea Returns Scam-Linked Nationals Under Arrest Amid Rising Concerns Over Cambodian Operations.

A chartered flight carrying 64 South Korean nationals arrived at Incheon International Airport on Saturday after the country's authorities sent a team to Cambodia to investigate dozens of its citizens allegedly involved in online scam operations. The individuals, both voluntary and involuntary participants in scam schemes, have been taken into custody as criminal suspects upon their return.

The move comes as concerns over Cambodia's thriving online scam industry continue to grow, with tens of thousands of workers perpetrating "pig-butchering" scams, also known as romance scams, targeting people globally. These operations often involve cryptocurrency investment schemes that build trust before funds are stolen, leaving victims financially devastated.

Cambodia has become a hub for large-scale scam operations, with many owned by wealthy and politically connected individuals. An estimated 200,000 people work in these scams, including about 1,000 South Korean nationals. The country's authorities have faced criticism over their inability to curb the industry effectively, leading to widespread exploitation.

In recent weeks, international pressure has mounted on Cambodia's government to address its growing online scam problem. The US and UK recently announced sweeping sanctions against a multinational crime network known as the Prince Group, which operates "scam centres" across the region. Prosecutors have linked the group to wire fraud and money laundering charges against its chair, Chinese-Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi.

The case highlights the growing global concern over online scams and the need for stronger cooperation between countries to combat these crimes. As Cambodia continues to grapple with its own scam problem, South Korea's decision to ban travel to parts of the country is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to protect its citizens from exploitation.

The recent death of a college student in Cambodia who was reportedly kidnapped and tortured by a crime ring has raised further concerns over the safety and well-being of foreign nationals operating in the country. As investigations into these incidents continue, it is essential that authorities prioritize protecting vulnerable individuals and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

just another country gettin scammed cambodia's online scam game is outta control tho... 200k people involved? that's wild. gotta do more than just ban travel, gotta protect its own citizens gotta keep an eye on those crime networks too

you know what's wild? how some people can just live off exploiting others like cambodia's online scam industry, where thousands of workers are preying on innocent folks worldwide. it's crazy to think about how some country's authorities can be so ineffective at stopping this stuff. anyway, the thing is, it's not just about cambodia or south korea - it's a global problem that requires international cooperation. we need stronger laws and more effective enforcement to protect people from these scams . and to all you scammers out there, let me ask you something: do you ever think about how your actions affect real people's lives? because for most of us, our lives aren't just a game or a way to make cash - we're human beings with feelings and families

The recent move by South Korea to return its nationals under arrest from Cambodia raises important questions about global cooperation in combating online scams . While banning travel to parts of the country is a step in the right direction, it's crucial that authorities prioritize the safety and well-being of foreign nationals operating in Cambodia . The estimated 200,000 people involved in these scams, including 1,000 South Korean nationals, are often vulnerable individuals who are lured into these schemes with promises of easy wealth . It's essential that we recognize the complexities of online exploitation and the need for stronger cooperation between countries to address this issue .

Man, this is crazy! Like, I know scams are a thing, but Cambodia taking it to a whole new level? It's wild to think about 200k people living off of scamming others. That's just not right. And the fact that some of these scammers even have connections with wealthy and powerful people is just disturbing . I mean, you'd think countries would be more proactive about stopping these operations, but it's like they're stuck in a cycle.

I remember when online scams were all about phishing emails and fake websites, but now it's like a whole industry built around building trust and getting money from people. It's just so... calculated . And the fact that South Korea is taking action by banning travel to certain areas? Yeah, that's a step in the right direction, I guess .

But here's the thing: we need more than just bans and sanctions. We need stronger laws, better enforcement, and more support for victims of these scams . And let's not forget about those poor college students who get caught up in these situations... it's just heartbreaking . Anyway, I'm all for taking down scammers, but we gotta be smart about it too .

man... this is like, such a wild ride ... think about it, these people were just living in cambodia, maybe even contributing to the local economy, but then they get pulled into this world of online scams and suddenly their whole life is turned upside down ... and the worst part is, most of them didn't even want to be a part of it, some got forced in by people they trusted ... it's like, what does that say about our society? why do we create these conditions where someone can get sucked into something so destructive? and then there are the countries that enable this, like cambodia, just turning a blind eye while their citizens are getting exploited ... it's like, how do we even begin to fix this problem?

So South Korea is sending back its own scammers? It's like they're saying "Hey, we got caught, so you gotta come home". Meanwhile, Cambodia's just letting these people run wild and making bank off of unsuspecting victims... sounds like a classic case of "I'm not the problem, I'm just a victim" . And now South Korea is banning travel to parts of Cambodia? That's just like saying "Don't come for your money, but do come to visit us if you want to be scammed in a safer environment" . It's all about prioritizing the interests of their own citizens over doing what's right... sounds like a classic case of "I'm not guilty, I was just following orders" .

just saw this news about South Korea bringing back scammers from Cambodia i mean its not like they were going to do anything to stop the scam ops anyway lol these people are making bank off people's trust issues and now we gotta deal with the fallout at least south korea is trying to look out for their citizens though its like that movie stranger things when they have to work together to take down the bad guys but in real life we need more countries working together to combat online scams

Ugh this is getting out of hand... 200k people being scammed and exploiting others is just crazy Cambodia needs to get its act together ASAP. South Korea taking action by banning travel to these areas is a good start, but I feel bad for the ones who got caught up in these schemes without even knowing what they were getting into It's not just about the money, it's about people's lives and safety. More needs to be done to protect foreigners and hold those responsible accountable. The fact that there are 'wealthy and politically connected individuals' behind these scams is just disgusting

I'm not surprised that South Korea is cracking down on its own citizens who got caught up in online scams in Cambodia . It's a huge problem and they're finally taking action . The stats are crazy though, 200k people working in these scams? That's just sick . I feel bad for the victims of course, it's heartbreaking to think about getting scammed out of your money .

I'm glad that other countries like the US and UK are also taking action against this problem . It's not just Cambodia or South Korea that needs to step up, it's a global issue . The Prince Group is a big player in all this and they need to be held accountable for their crimes .

The recent deaths of foreign nationals in Cambodia are just the cherry on top of this mess . It's not just about the scams themselves, but also about the way that people are being treated like cattle . I hope that authorities can do better at protecting these individuals and holding the perpetrators accountable .

I mean, it's about time South Korea took action against those scammers, you know? 64 people on a flight? That's like, a whole squad of online scam artists . Cambodia needs to step up its game too, 'cause if they can't control their own scams, how are they gonna protect the rest of us? I'm glad the US and UK are putting pressure on them, but it's not just about sanctions, it's about actual change. We need more countries working together to tackle online scams .

Just saw the news about South Korea returning scam-linked nationals from Cambodia 64 people, that's a big deal! I feel bad for them, but also kinda relieved that they're getting out of there. I mean, who wants to get scammed or caught up in some shady scheme? And yeah, it's crazy how many people are involved in these online scams - 200k workers is like a whole industry Cambodia needs to step up their game and figure out how to stop these operations once and for all. As for the US and UK taking action against the Prince Group... kudos to them! We need more countries working together to tackle this problem

OMG I'm so glad South Korea took action against their own citizens involved in online scams! It's like, they couldn't even protect their own people? 200k ppl working in these scams is crazy rn I feel bad for the victims though, those crypto investment schemes are super convincing and leave people with nothing

And yeah, Cambodia needs to step up its game too! The US & UK banning a crime network like that shows countries need to work together to stop these scammers International cooperation is key, imo The fact that it's all linked to Chen Zhi and the Prince Group makes me wanna shout "Justice!" Can't let them get away with this wire fraud & money laundering stuff...

I think its kinda weird how the US & UK are slapping sanctions on Cambodia's Prince Group but its not like they're doing squat to stop scams globally . I mean, if you look at it from a business perspective, scammers are just trying to make a buck, and if your country is making that money for them, then maybe that's the real issue here .

Also, 200k people working in scams? Thats crazy , but how many of those jobs are legit? Maybe we should be focusing on creating more opportunities than just policing online activity .

this whole situation just reminds me to be super cautious when dealing with people online, i mean, you never know who's behind that charming smile & it's like, we're living in a world where scams can happen to anyone, anywhere, and it's not just limited to cambodia or south korea... we need to be more mindful of our own boundaries and don't let people take advantage of us for the sake of a quick buck

Stats show 1 in 5 online scams are linked to Cambodia 200,000+ people work in these scams, making it a HUGE problem 64 South Korean nationals just returned from Cambodia, 1,000 of which were allegedly involved in scam schemes 10s of thousands of victims worldwide, with crypto investment schemes being a major culprit Inflation's gone up 4.5% in S Korea since January 2023 Meanwhile, Cambodia's economy has grown by 7.6% YoY, but at what cost?

Scams are becoming too big for Cambodia to handle alone

idk why south korea would go thru all this hassle but im glad they did its crazy how scams can affect so many ppl worldwide. gotta say tho, 200k ppl working in scams is straight up disturbing. theres got to be a better way 4 them 2 earn a legit income anyway, hope these people get the help & support they need after all this

I just got back from a crazy weekend trip to Japan , and I'm still trying to process everything . Have you guys ever tried ramen in Tokyo? It's like a whole different world of flavor . Anyway, back to online scams... I mean, what's the deal with these "pig-butchering" scams? Sounds like something out of a movie . And 200,000 people working in scams? That's just crazy . I'm all for countries taking action and cracking down on these operations, but it's like they're trying to cover up the issue or something . You know what would be helpful? If governments started prioritizing cybersecurity education . Just a thought .

gotta say, this whole situation with South Korea and Cambodia is super concerning . I mean, 1,000 South Korean nationals involved in online scams? That's a lot of people getting hurt . And it's not just the victims, but also their families who are left to deal with the aftermath .

I think it's great that South Korea is taking action and sending a team to Cambodia to investigate, but at the same time, we need to be looking at the bigger picture . How can we prevent these scams from happening in the first place? And what about the people who are already trapped in these operations?

The fact that there's a whole network of "scam centres" across the region and that China's Chen Zhi is behind it all is just wild . I'm not surprised that international pressure is mounting on Cambodia to do something about this, but it's still not enough .

Let's hope that South Korea's decision to ban travel to parts of Cambodia is a step in the right direction, and that we can start to see some real change . But we need to keep pushing for more accountability and protection for those who are vulnerable .