Jakarta/Phnom Penh: More than 400 Indonesians were released this month from online scam operations in Cambodia, officials said on Monday, following Phnom Penh’s intensified crackdown on the illicit industry after the arrest of a key figure accused of running the networks.

The networks, which operate across Southeast Asia, employ individuals to defraud internet users globally through fake romances, cryptocurrency schemes, and other cyber frauds, generating tens of billions of dollars annually. While some employees join voluntarily, many are trafficked or coerced into the operations.

“Recent Cambodian law enforcement measures have led many online scam syndicates to release their workers,” said Indonesia’s ambassador to Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto, in a video posted on social media.

Between January 1 and 18, 440 Indonesians approached the embassy in Phnom Penh seeking assistance after being “released by online scam syndicates,” with many eager to return home, the ambassador added on Instagram. He noted that, as Cambodia continues its crackdown, many more Indonesians from provincial scam hubs are expected to arrive.

Diverse Circumstances of the Victims

According to the ambassador, the individuals freed ranged widely in experience and circumstances:

• Some had been involved in online scams for years, while others had arrived only recently.
• Some still possessed their passports, whereas others had their travel documents confiscated by syndicates.
• A portion had overstayed in Cambodia, while others held valid residence permits and were seeking alternative work.

The embassy is facilitating repatriations, but Santo emphasized that Indonesians are generally being directed to return home independently. He also issued a warning against engaging in criminal activities abroad.

Firsthand Accounts

Dozens of Indonesians were seen lining up outside the embassy in Phnom Penh on Monday morning, some with suitcases, after being freed. An 18-year-old from Sumatra recounted his ordeal in a Bavet city compound near the Vietnam border, where he had been forced to conduct scams for eight months with no pay despite promises of $600 per month.

He explained that the scammers released them after hearing about impending police action. “They heard police were coming inside the compound, so they let everyone go,” he said. His passport had been held by a Chinese boss, prompting him to visit the embassy to request a replacement.

Broader Regional Context

The release coincides with Cambodia’s intensified efforts to combat the online fraud industry, which the United Nations estimates employs at least 100,000 people in the country.

Similar lines of people were reported outside the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh, with about 100 individuals seeking consular assistance, though they declined to speak to media. China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, stated that Beijing “attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese citizens overseas” when questioned about the situation.

Cambodian authorities also recently arrested and deported Chinese-born tycoon Chen Zhi, accused of running major online scam operations from Cambodia, to China. Chen, a former Cambodian government adviser, had been indicted by US authorities in October 2025 for his role in these networks.

Crackdown Signals Change in Online Scam Landscape

The mass release of foreign workers signals a significant disruption in Cambodia’s online scam industry. With law enforcement targeting syndicate leaders and compounds, workers are being freed—voluntarily or otherwise—altering the structure of these fraud networks.

Officials from Indonesia and other affected countries are now working to ensure safe repatriation while warning citizens to avoid participating in online scams abroad. The incident underscores the regional and global scope of the cyber fraud problem and highlights ongoing international cooperation in law enforcement.

The Cambodian government has reiterated its commitment to eliminate illegal online fraud operations, signaling stricter regulations and increased monitoring of internet-based employment hubs in the country.