Growing international enforcement efforts have coincided with the release or escape of large numbers of people from online scam compounds in Cambodia, many of whom are believed to have been trafficked into forced labor. Human rights organizations report that those freed often receive little immediate support, leaving them vulnerable to being recruited or coerced into similar operations elsewhere. The actions follow recent sanctions and arrests targeting figures accused of running transnational scam networks, marking an unusual moment of disruption for the industry. Analysts warn, however, that without continued external pressure and stronger protections for workers, the underlying labor exploitation is likely to persist.
See "Thousands of workers flee Cambodia scam centres, officials say", Rebecca Ratcliffe, The Guardian, January 23, 2026