PHNOM PENH, OCT 20: /DNA/ – In a significant move against a pervasive form of online fraud, Cambodian authorities have deported 64 South Korean nationals who were allegedly involved in large-scale “pig butchering” scam operations.
The individuals were repatriated over the weekend following a joint investigation by Cambodian and South Korean law enforcement agencies. They had been detained on suspicion of running fraudulent online investment schemes from within Cambodia.
The term “pig butchering” refers to a long-term scam where perpetrators, often operating from call centers disguised as legitimate businesses, cultivate trust with their victims over weeks or months. This process, which fraudsters call “fattening the pig,” involves building a friendly or romantic relationship online. Once the victim’s trust is secured, the scammer persuades them to invest in fake cryptocurrency or other financial schemes, ultimately absconding with the funds—the “butchering” stage.
Cambodia, particularly the Sihanoukville region, has gained notoriety as a hub for such criminal enterprises. These operations are often run by transnational crime syndicates that traffic and coerce workers from across Southeast Asia and beyond to run the scams under harsh conditions.
A brief statement from Cambodian immigration officials confirmed the deportation of the 64 individuals but did not provide further details on the specific locations of their alleged crimes or the scale of the financial losses involved.
The South Korean government has acknowledged the operation, with officials from its embassy in Phnom Penh assisting in the process. This deportation is the latest in a series of actions highlighting the global nature of the “pig butchering” epidemic, which has defrauded victims worldwide out of billions of dollars.
The crackdown reflects growing international pressure on countries like Cambodia to dismantle the criminal networks operating within their borders. Authorities are urging the public to be extremely cautious of unsolicited investment offers from strangers online, a common hallmark of these sophisticated and devastating scams.
