Phnom penh: Authorities in the Cambodian capital have inspected 88 locations in a sweeping overnight crackdown on suspected online scam operations, detaining five foreign nationals, a municipal official said Thursday.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the raids were conducted on the night of July 8 across apartments, condominiums, and hotels in Phnom Penh's Khan Meanchey. The operation led to the discovery of 252 foreign residents, as stated by Ms. Dor Samphors, spokesperson for the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration.
While 247 of the foreigners were found to possess valid passports, law enforcement officers uncovered a suspected cyber fraud operation inside a 27th-floor apartment at the RandF Condominium complex in Sangkat Chak Angre Leu. Five Vietnamese nationals were detained at the scene, and authorities seized five laptops and 18 smartphones, 12 of which are suspected of being used to facilitate online scams.
"Based on our preliminary assessment, the suspects are believed to be linked to technology-driven fraud," Ms. Samphors said. The five suspects and the confiscated electronics have been transferred to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Headquarters for further legal processing. The apartment has been temporarily sealed off as investigations continue.