Southeast Asia's online scam industry remains hard to shut down

Cambodia arrested and extradited Chen Zhi, who U.S. and U.K. authorities say led a transnational online scam network that exploited trafficked workers; the industry persists across Southeast Asia in many centers and is reported to have extracted large sums from victims worldwide.

Cambodia recently arrested and extradited Chen Zhi, a figure U.S. and U.K. authorities allege led a transnational online scam enterprise that exploited trafficked workers and defrauded victims worldwide. The move is presented as a rare high-profile action against an industry that investigators say has taken large sums from people around the world. Despite the arrest, the wider online scam sector remains active across multiple countries in Southeast Asia, where operations can shift locations when pressured. Key developments: - Cambodian authorities say Chen Zhi was arrested and extradited to China, and that his Cambodian citizenship had been revoked. - U.S. and U.K. officials allege Chen led a transnational online scam network that exploited trafficked workers and targeted victims globally. - International agencies report the operations are widespread across Southeast Asia, with U.N. estimates citing roughly 120,000 people in Myanmar and 100,000 in Cambodia working in such operations, and investigators saying the schemes have extracted billions from victims. Summary: The arrest of Chen Zhi is described by authorities as a notable enforcement action against a large and dispersed scam industry, but sources say the networks continue to operate across the region. Undetermined at this time.