Over September 21 and 22, Cambodia’s Ministry of Information brought 74 journalists from 39 news outlets out to inspect former cyber-scam compounds across Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, and right in Phnom Penh. The press contingent, comprising reporters from 19 local and 20 international media organizations, toured the shut-down sites under official guidance, filming and documenting what remains of the defunct scam operations.
Outside these compounds, daily life moves at its usual pace—tuk-tuks navigating narrow alleys and roadside stalls doing a brisk trade in sweet iced coffee. Yet just behind those high perimeter walls, lights used to burn all night long. Reporters carried their camera gear through cleared-out rooms and quiet corridors where scams were once orchestrated round the clock. Local media noted that bringing journalists to the front lines was a deliberate effort to set the stage for an upcoming major event.
Right after the tour, on September 23 and 24, Phnom Penh is hosting an international conference on combating cyber scams. Delegates from more than 20 countries and three major international organizations are gathering in the capital. Over the past few nights, locals riding motorbikes home late have already noticed tighter security and extra police patrols on the streets. Around town, people are talking, hoping this coordinated international push will finally wipe out these predatory operations once and for all.
