The Thai military announced on February 2 that it had uncovered extensive evidence of cross-border scam operations at a Cambodian fraud complex near the disputed Thai–Cambodian border. The site, known as the O’Smach scam park, reportedly housed thousands of people, many of whom were victims of human trafficking forced to conduct online fraud under threats of violence and punishment. Thai forces escorted journalists and foreign representatives to the abandoned facilities, where they displayed large quantities of documents, including lists of potential victims and scripted dialogues used in scam schemes.
Thai army officials said the compound had been sealed off and partially dismantled, describing it as a hub for organized, large-scale telecommunications fraud and other criminal activities. Cambodian authorities rejected Thailand’s claims, accusing Bangkok of using the fraud camp as a pretext for military action. Phnom Penh maintained that it is actively cracking down on scam operations within its territory and pledged to eliminate the illegal industry by April.
The revelations come amid heightened tensions between the two countries, which signed a ceasefire late last year following weeks of their most serious border clashes in years. Thailand’s military asserted that some of the targeted facilities were also used to store weapons and launch attacks during the conflict. The Thai–Cambodian border region has increasingly become a hotspot for transnational scam networks, particularly online fraud operations that reportedly generate billions of dollars in illicit revenue each year.
Source: Epoch Times, February 3, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/2/2/n14689673.htm