Public sentiment reveals a mix of relief and frustration towards the U.S. Department of Justice's recent Bitcoin seizure from a Cambodian fraud operation. Many express gratitude for the crackdown on rampant cybercrime while simultaneously condemning the Cambodian government's role in facilitating these scams. Personal stories of being victimized by fraud amplify the urgency for systemic change, with a strong desire for ongoing government action against such operations.

U.S. Department of Justice

Cambodian Government

Cybercriminals

Victims of scams

Does this get added to the bitcoin strategic reserve now?

AttentionSpanGamer

Financial_Design_801

i'd like to know the mechanics of how the BTC was actually seized. Did the perp give it all up in exchange for something? Or is there a way to access wallets the public doesn't know about?

shockwagon

How does the DOJ have jurisdiction over a Cambodian company?

Cyber-Soldier1

Did the man give the government his seed phrases?   Any clarity on how they took possession?

Holiday101

So no pigs were actually harmed in this butchering?

isBecause

"Zhi and a network of top executives in the Prince Group are accused of using political influence in multiple countries to protect their criminal enterprise and paid bribes to public officials to avoid actions by law enforcement authorities targeting the scheme, according to prosecutors."

Oh ... so the U.S. Government. Got it. Just weeding out the competition.

InsightKnite

isnt this part of the same criminal enterprise run by the chinese that are kidnapping and torturing hundreds of korean tourists

Hannibaalism

That's €134k bitcoin if it were all stored in bitcoin. More likely it's held in a combination of dollars, bitcoin, and crypto.

I'm sure there is a few thousand bitcoin in it for the strategic reserve, from claimants that can't be identified, or from the dollar denominated gains since the assets were stolen.

CiaranCarroll

I will be upset if they don’t add this to the strategic pile or make the victims whole. Who knows tho

shadowmage666

There is a fun Chinese-made movie on this topic where they do everything except call Cambodia out by name. Cambodia was mad when they made the film lol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_More_Bets

Siludin

How was the crypto seized if it was in his possession and not on an exchange?

chronicdemonic

Wonder if this will go to the BTC Fed Reserve

mercistheman

Trump is taking all the BTC he can from wherever he can.

ivmo71

CanExports

Hmmmm, did they happen to just cash it all out the other day?

ReversedNovaMatters

ChanceConfection3

Erocdotusa

Curious if this has anything to do with the network of phones they found in NY that they claimed was an attack on the UN… just seems related to me🤷🏽

HeavenlyCreation

aclaxx

So Is the government (or any entity for that matter) able to just “seize” Bitcoin if they so choose? Whether through hacking, brute force or any other tactic that defies the whole premise that bitcoin is a secure asset with a unique key that only the owner has access to? 

If it’s never disclosed as to how they managed to “seize” this, does that start to concern this community on the general security of owning Bitcoin?

Curran_C

Anyone else notice the dude at large is "Chen Zhi" kind of like Gen Z? Seems to me they don't know the actual individual at large...

Molasses_Gooze

Are the Westerners you speak with working at these scam centers? Id be surprised 

Most of them are probably just working 100% remote and chose Cambodia to chill for a while

Pogopoggers69

Work permit is a requirement for long term visa since 2020-ish. I have a "self-employed" work permit too even though I'm happily retired and don't work anywhere. Many foreigners also work remotely.

Wollont

I'm Russian and living here as a tourist. It's just that in Cambodia, a business visa is the only way to stay long-term, and you don't need a job to get one. You go to a travel agency, pay money, and you can live here for six months. 90% of the Europeans I've spoken to here are tourists too. It's just that Cambodia, like India, is a relatively cheap country with a pleasant climate and no crime. Some people live there on foreign pensions, others on passive income, but I haven't encountered anyone suspicious.

Gekeresen

CMN-def1989

Some of us have legit reasons we are here (though I don't think we've ever met from the way you describe).  I happen to have a self-employed work permit.  I do web and software development online as a freelancer.

As to why I am here, most of my time is actually spent doing volunteer work at a local Christian congregation.  It's certainly not a city I would choose, but I was asked to come here and help, so I did.

Extreme_Theory_3957

There is a term called, "Techpat", check it out

https://preview.redd.it/qg3h2nslz7sf1.png?width=1306&amp;format=png&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=b3324fb1f6764d57cf0af56005cba3aa80a2e2f6

Inevitable-Corner905

Are 'boiler rooms' still a thing? Like 20 years ago they were all the rage in Thailand and to a limited extent, Cambodia. They were still scam centres, but run mostly by Western organised criminals and recruited and paid, rather than kidnapped an tourtured. Some alleged links to well-known expat bars and legit businesses, but don't hear anything about them after the Chinese took over the scene.

combogumbo

I hope the government keeps cracking down on these places, you should report the building to the authorities. Its aresholes like this that will make visa laws and work permit laws more difficult for those foreign workers who are legitimate and pay taxes under self employed work permits. The building ownders in snooky should be reported too.... this gives such a beautiful country such a bad name.

NoNectarine1578

These scam centres are even in Mondulkiri province. Purpose built, multi million dollar developments in the middle of nowhere disguised as fruit and vegetable processing and distribution. Criminal operations trafficking people and holding them captive.

Infamous-Tomato-5100

My relative recently lost money to scam centers in Cambodia, even though they are living in Japan. With the wealth they have already accumulated, I believe the Hun Sen family should make efforts to eliminate Cambodia’s bad reputation as ‘Scambodia’ a label spread and exaggerated by the Thai and Vietnamese.

Mundane_Diamond7834

Sex trafficking, online gambling, crypto, fraud, etc

homelabids

It’s easy to get a visa in Cambodia.  Lots of people go to Cambodia short term when they can’t extend it at other counties.

iammai48

Indonesia is a middle income country. I've work there as an international school teacher. Got paid around USD 1,400 - 1,500 monthly.

Yes, a lot of them now work in Sihanoukville. Mostly in online gambling industry (which cambodia government allowed as long as it has "gaming and entertainment" license). Some of them work in scamming.

Now i work as international school teacher in Phnom Penh. I live in an apartment in BKK 3. Guess what? Some of my neighbors are indonesian and their operation has moved to Phnom Penh. I've talk to one of them, they said that they were moved from Philippines because their operation closed down and prohibited.

It's easier to get "gaming and entertainment" license here in cambodia. You just paid some amount of money and whoalaaaa.

They also rent some office tower to be their working space. I've heard some rumors that it is located somewhere in BKK 3. Near J-Tower 3 that is currently in progress (under construction).

PhnomPenh94

I work remotely for some of the worlds biggest companies through a crowdsourcing company that the companies i do work for use. So there are legit freelancers here but if the person i staying in Snooky for no apparent reason these days you know something stinks.

Mental-Locksmith4089

I found this documentary quite interesting: [How a Billion-Dollar Cambodian Cybercrime Empire Was Built](https://youtu.be/3f8ohjxHVmw)

However, probably not related to the western people you are referring to.

sebastianistoblame

Popular-Box-7893

Indonesia is not lower income country 

But yea, it’s all scammers

thisistheplaceof

I work here as a musician under a self employment work visa, quite a number of others do the same.  The advantage over the setup here over other countries is it allows you to work in multiple places vs. having to be sponsored and work for only one company.  The money isn't fantastic but depending on your skill level, it's enough to get by.

karmafrog1

Why wouldnt the scamming company just give them visas so they would be under their thumb and have something to control them with as it would be in the company 'name'?

If they have freelance visas, it gives them more freedom.

The one that I met was essentially having his passport being held hostage and when he asked for it back they said they'd lost it and he had to get an emergency passport to leave the country.

lemonjello6969

What?

They most likely at remote workers.  My partner is a remote worker for a university.  Her money goes further here.  I've done the same before.  

  
Living in the USA (people often don't own things outright but bought lets say their 40k car with a car loan/credit) is really expensive.  It is even more expensive when you are poor.

Are you just talking about Sihanoukville and scamming centres specifically, I'm not sure I quite understand your question? 




We work remotely so our work is mostly UK based, but pretty international really. So we can live wherever. 


Cambodia is a wonderful place when you are on Western wages, as the cost of living is so low.
It sounds a bit crass, but it's the truth. 


I know people who come here for a few years and save enough money to go home and buy a house. Something that would be impossible with the current rental prices and cost of living. 


There's absolutely a lot of scammy expats here. Some who are running away from things back home and others who take advantage of people. 


But there's also a lot of people who fancy a few years travelling and saving money and enjoying things they could never have back home, like having a house cleaner etc. 

Holiday_Estimate_352

I would say most of the Westeners in Cambodia have work visas under “self-employed” status. They are either working remotely back to home country or have some wealth that they don't really need to work, but they need to have "business" visa to live long term here.

But I live in Sihanoukville as well. Many of the new Westerners that I have met recently here are digital nomads. They work remotely for companies in their home countries while enjoying life here. Some stay just a few months, while others settle for longer periods.

Russians and Ukrainians  have come to escape the war. Many of them work as online croupiers for casinos, while others  work remotely for their home countries. Some have even started businesses here. For example one of the handymen I use for my properties moved from Russia a few years ago and built his life here now.

3erginho

Here's a real story from a vietnamese who is a victim in both cambodia scam center and myanmar slaughterhouse. You can turn on subtitle to understand:  
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJQ5r3ltAeE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJQ5r3ltAeE)  
2 years ago, vtv (vn offical media) made a video about scam center, you can alos check that:  
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEUYbDUwag4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEUYbDUwag4)

UnfairBullfrog5518

Come to Cambodia and see for yourself. Sihanoukville. Prison camps all over the place.

Scared_Character_988

Most of them are not being held captive and are living in normal condos or shitty hotel accommodation. 

I’ve met some and heard stories about yeah if you don’t make quota they tase you.  The one guy I met had to give his passport to get a visa, they “held it for processing” for months then when he wanted to leave oops they had lost it.

What is your background and what university are you working with?

drahcir2025

Sounds like you are trying to find 1 definitive truth for a large issue. Here is something to think about..
1. Not all these places are the same. Scam centres paying employees are not the same as slave compounds where people are tortured daily, there are a wide variety of places all called SCAM centres.
2. Some organisations that help people leave these places tend to over dramatise the situation when they report it (they survive on donations and if they sound more like a taxi service than a Black Ops rescue team they don't get donations).
3. When reporting how they were tricked, trafficked, and held hostage people will always skip the parts where they made bad decisions or chose poorly and maximise the areas where they were victims.
4. As you are not a journalist or historian, I don't see how you could navigate those first 3 points and arrive at any meaningful result.

Resident_Iron_4136

There is no way for you to escape by yourself since it is a restricted area you can get in but never get out. For those people who escaped got help from the outside by their family. Ex. Chinese actors who visit Thailand for a job, he can't escape by himself. His family called the police in China to work with the Thai government and they helped to rescue him and get him back very fast so I think if you are not famous you may never get out by chance.  They put cameras everywhere scan when people want to get in or out so it would not be easy to escape unless you have a phone and call for help with your specific location.

spcambo9

Here’s a [story about victims from Thailand who escaped a scam center](https://hardstories.org/stories/rights-suppression/when-cybercrime-trafficking-victims-become-suspects) in Myanmar

HolaGuyX

There's a great first hand account on a podcast series called Scam Factory that is really eye opening and helps you understand whats going on in them a bit more.

Diddymen

How will it help the problem if anyone talks to you? What are going to do to help? It seems to me that exposing how a few lucky people managed to escape would just make it easier for the ones running the compunds to tighten up their operation. I don't understand your goal here.

_punkymonkey_

Many have but won't share it online. It's just too embarrassing to admit they got "trapped" in the scheme

Southern-Basket-7343

I heard quite a tale from a SUPER hot girl at Nana Plaza some time ago...not sure if it was legit,  though.....

Powerful-Stomach-425

Check out Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation on [Threads](https://www.threads.com/@bluedragonchildren?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==).

Here is their latest post from earlier today:

“Blue Dragon has rescued a 19 year old man from slavery in Myanmar. He was trafficked 4 months ago and sold into an online scamming compound run by a  criminal gang. The operation to bring him home has been complicated by Typhoon Kajiki but he is now safe.”

They’re an amazing organization.

TravelVietnamMatt

Have you seen  " no more bets" ? 
Like that but 100x worst.

theWONDERlight

I know one person who did, she might be willing to discuss it depending on your reasons.  She wasn’t there long though.  Got in and bailed immediately.

There are quite a few youtube vids from reputable sources documenting this.

jack-bloggs

I really don't think you're going to get any genuine responses from this one

Barkyourheadoffdog

- fake bill at restaurant 
- fake bill at shop

I confronted them and they gave me a real one I got verified after.

AsianJiuJitsuguy

I think they target specifically foreigner/elderly Khmer citizens. Seen many old folk fall for fake telegram links. For foreigners, I'm not too sure.

WiseFatBoi

I've lived and worked here for 8 years and I can honestly say that while I'm sure I've been the victim of dual pricing, I have never been the subject of a scam.

FoundationOk8956

Watch the Cambodia airport !! They subtract 6 months off your passport. So make sure your passport is not near expiration. Do not over stay a visa . They come up with all kinds of stuff not to like about your passport!! Be careful! They want cash to fix it .

anybeachwilldo

The Cambodian people are wonderful , hard working, honest. We lived there for one year . They do not want anything to do with large currency. Take very small denominations of NEW American money.

Im Siem Reap 2015 I experienced the classic milk powder for the baby scam, fake drugs, some guy wanting donations to help eliminate child trafficking. 2019-2013 just the same guy with a different story for donations.

Technical-Amount-754

I was given 2 large fake bills in a currency exchange shop, it was my first time in PP so didn't think about it until I tried to use them. 

Always check every bill you're given

caketaster

Approached by 2 ladyboys at night in PP, one grabbed my hand and starting kissing it then moved to my left, the other walked straight up to me and grabbed my crotch really hard, while the first one lifted my phone from my pocket. 

Fortunately I noticed and was extremely close to punching him/her until I got it back. Also fortunately all my other valuables were in a money belt, I only had my phone out because I was kind of lost. 

Not really a scam I guess, just an attempted pickpocketing that left me with sore balls

1. Always keep your personal belongings safe, especially while walking, they pickpocket your phone or bag 
2. The massage story is true… !! 
3. Safety travel try using Move Car or Grab app , to avoid overcharged 
4. Not safe for a girl to hangout alone at night tho ..

peekkabo

In my 4 months here I've only been scammed by qn expat.

Adventurous_Iron_762

thekonghong

Beware lockers in massage room. They steal from rear.

norman3355

I found it remarkably scam free during my recent 7 months... Maybe I just got lucky. Yes of course taxi drivers try it on a bit, but in comparison to vietnam was a breeze with their constant sleight of hand and shortchanging.

IndependentFee6280

Back when the apps were starting, but most people still paid cash, some drivers had a screenshot of a slightly more expensive ride they would show you. So you get a 5000r ride, they show you a screenshot for 8000, and a lot of people just hand over the cash without checking their own app. Doesn't happen much any more as most people have aba/credit card attached for automatic payment.


The "Filipino" scam (sorry, that's just what ive heard it called), someone asks where you're from, miraculously have a cousin or neice studying there, want to hang out later? Apparently you end up shitfaced in a card game or something, and being escorted to an ATM to pay your "debts". It's always the same script, I've never gone for it but heard the preamble less than 3 months ago, so it's apparently still going.


Money swaps have been mentioned. Any time you let a large bill out of your hands, note the last digits of the serial number. Could be a massage place with backdoors to the lockers, a restaurant going to get you change but brings it back saying they couldn't do it, even a money changer. Check the serial number of the note you get back. This one is by far the most common currently. [Example](https://www.reddit.com/r/cambodia/comments/1nm50p1/just_been_scammed/)

motodup

Once i moved out from a apartment and the agent made stuff up to withdraw from the deposit which i suspect was for him to pocket it as the owner of the unit was a Japanese citizen not in the country that would have no idea.

The landlord i live with now and have lived with for 4 years in different of his units never complained once about what would be considered normal wear and tear after living X years in the same unit.

Not scam but upright telling you to give him or her money straight in your face

No-Valuable5802

I know a girl who works at a Chinese casino in Bavet at a job she described to me as "customer service".  Well one day we were chatting and she sent me a photo of herself at work one day and she perhaps mistakenly included her computer screens in the background.  On one side of the screen were normal photos of her and the other side were multiple chat boxes and an AI program that had one of her photos from the first screen on it but with her face replaced by the AI program.  Well I know enough about the pig butchering scams to know exactly what was happening and what her job really is. So I wasn't personally being scammed but it was interesting to see the some of inner workings of these scam centers.  And I know of two other girls who have recently went to work at Chinese casinos recently, most likely doing the same things because both also don't talk about their jobs with me.  One did tell me though here salary was $900 a month, which is a big salary in Cambodia, which again makes it very unlikely she is just "customer service".  So on the one hand I can understand why they take these jobs because normal Cambodians are very poor but on the other hand it's such a shame this "industry" and it's Chinese gangster overlords have taken over Cambodia.

MP4-B

Neither me or anyone I know has been "scammed" here.


I do personally know of 3 women who have been r*ped by Cambodian men (two were Tuktuk drivers). I also know a woman who was dragged behind a motorbike because they took hold of her handbag that got tangled around her neck and another one who was severely beaten when he couldn't r*pe her. 


I don't go out after dark. I only use the apps for Tuktuks (rather than getting random ones) and I keep my head down. I also don't drink in public. I live in a place with security. 


I have been fine so far, but if you're a woman then you need to take precautions. 


Disclaimer: these sorts of things happen in every country and I love living in Cambodia, but it's important to be aware of the reality for women. 

Never been scammed here. Except that one time I thought I was getting a proper kebab delivered and it came the size of a small cigar. I once had my house burgled, but I did leave the front door wide open overnight, so that's on me.

&gt;If scams are that common yet no one talks about them, I’ll take that as my sign not to visit.

You asked for personal experiences, not a list of tourist scams operating in Cambodia. There's a significant difference between scams existing, and individuals having the wherewithall to avoid them. Those that did get scammed probably don't spend a lot of time lurking in r/Cambodia.

There are plenty of tourist traps/scams around Phnom Penh's tourist areas, like anywhere tourists are.

No change tuk tuks. Not very common anymore with the transport apps, but if you had only a larger note (say $5) and the ride was $3, they'd claim they had no change, hoping you'd just give them the extra $2. How to avoid: tell the tuk tuk to go make change.

Blackjack scammers. I haven't seen them in years, but they used to operate around around riverside/Wat Botum. Filipinos. Obviously they don't have a neice studying nursing in your country, so you shouldn't go back to their house to meet her or play that unbeatable blackjack hand. How to avoid: don't go home with strangers you meet at the park.

Drug/prosititute touts: Along riverside, used to be mainly near the intersection near FCC. No idea if they're still around. Escalating offers of weed, coke, smack, ice, ladies, boys, little boys, little girls. Unsure if they actually have what they're offering, or if it's a ruse to catch you out and police swoop in. Either way they're scum. How to avoid: don't be an a complete idiot.

Massage theives: you visit a tourist massage along the riverside/Daun Penh area, they show you a lockbox/cupboard to put your clothes and wallet in. There's a backdoor to the lockbox. Your money is swapped for ghost money. How to avoid: don't carry hundreds of dollars with you for a massage. Don't go to the cheap tourist massage joints. 

Child beggars/hawkers. Plenty around riverside. Almost always managed by a parent or family member somewhere in the vicinity. Don't feel bad not buying anything from them. How to avoid: tell them to go away.

Ghost money swaps. You pay with a large note, and they come back claiming you gave them a fake note. How to avoid: don't pay for nickel and dime stuff with big notes. If you ever do pay with a big USD note, read the last few digits of the serial number to them, so they can't bring back a ghost note and claim it's yours.

epidemiks

Lived in SR and PP a combined total of 3 1/2 years.  Do not recall ever having been personally scammed.  Knock on wood.

Have heard of people getting their 100s switched out for fakes at massage parlors on the riverside, and of people getting their phones snatched out of their hands when standing on the street, as others have mentioned.  One street mugging occurred in SR to a friend of mine who went down the wrong alley.  But this was unusual.

I walk a lot, sometimes at night, and have never felt unsafe unless I was extremely intoxicated.

Biggest danger here is the scam center industry but that befalls people looking for work, not tourists…also traffic accidents which are unfortunately common. 

Overall I would say with reasonable care and an healthy awareness you are in a less developed country with fewer guardrails, Cambodia is safe.

I got charged $9 for an (illegal - nicotine) vape when the locals said I should have only paid 6.

Suckmyflats

scam implies at least a two-step process. here it's generally just overcharging by absurd amounts for anything just to see if they can get away with it- ex. a landlord of a 1BR/1 aircon apartment told me my electric bill for the month was almost $300 . . . lol, maybe for a 6 room hotel dickhead

mama_snail

Never been scammed but theft is pretty common. Crimes of opportunity against unsuspecting tourists and what not. I've lived here for nearly 6 years and twice someone has attempted to steal my bag out of a tuk tuk on two occasions. Two guys on a moto and the guy on the back leans in to the tuk tuk to snatch your bag or your phone, then they speed off. Another time it was a guy on foot while we were stopped in traffic. Keep the bag between your feet or keep it on the shelf behind the seat if the back of the tuk tuk is enclosed, don't lean toward the outside of the moto with your phone. Keep in mind this is a grand total of two times out of several hundred rides in a tuk tuk. 

Don't leave a phone sitting out on the table when eating outside near the road. You have to remember that your fancy new iPhone is worth more than 6 months salary for a local person. That's a very tempting target. 

Don't go to the five dollar rub and tug massage. Just don't. They're notorious to the point of being cliche for swapping out real $100 bills with fake ones because they can access the lockers even when "locked". 

Some bars will put extra drinks on your bill if you've been there a long time and you're clearly hammered, assuming that you won't notice because you actually haven't been keeping track of how much you've ordered for yourself or how many lady drinks.

If you pay with $100 or $50, check and show them the last 3 digits of the serial number, in case they come back to you with a sorry but this is fake story. If you check the number, the places that might try to pull that won't because it's clear you know the drill. 

Don't ring the bell if you don't know what ringing the bell means. You're buying a round for all the girls in the bar. Including the ones sitting outside. Not a scam but don't get caught by surprise you know

OkComplaint4273

People will try to take advantage of you (tuktuk drivers trying to swap money and so on) if they see you’ve been drinking.  This is why having only a few usd in paper money and everything else electronic is beneficial. 


Milk scam (still a thing?) and donation scams.  

I just ignore anyone that comes up to me and pay for everything electronically.  Unless they have a QR code, it is going to be difficult for them.

Recently? None, but in my 10 years of living in Cambodia on and off, I've fallen victim to a few scams and heard about a few others, so here goes...

Begging kids/young women begging you to buy them food or whatever else insisting that they don't want money, only food item (often a jug of powdered formula to feed their baby), and as soon as you've paid for their item(s) and walk away, they'll go back to the store and get a refund. (I fell for the baby milk scam myself, ~10 years ago)

Some tuktuks will drive a longer route than necessary to ask for more money, if you look like you don't know where you're going, or straight up try to charge you way more than any given trip should cost, since everyone who isn't a tourist use apps like PassApp or Grab to book tuktuks, so not using those apps tells everyone you're an easy target. (I made friends with a motodop who tried to "scam" me out of $5 that way, but he made me laugh and I don't care about $5, he probably needed it more than I did, and now he's my friend...)

Tuktuks that hang around Pub Street will sell you shitty weed for way more than it's worth. Again, everyone who isn't a tourist knows where to get decent weed, so the very fact that you might be interested by a tuktuk's offer of selling you weed tells them you're an easy target. (If you're a stoner and can tell good weed from bad weed, that's a non-issue, especially now that it's easy to buy weed that comes from a neighbouring country that legalized it...)

Be careful when trying to pay with large bills, as store clerks will look at your $100 bill and either say it isn't pristine enough or they don't have enough change to break it for you, but they'll give you back fake bills, which will make you look very bad when you try to break that $100 bill elsewhere. (I've seen and heard people claim the ATM were giving fake money, but that's VERY unlikely, what is likely is they withdrew real money, tried to break a Benjamin and got scammed that way.)

Other than that, I wouldn't call it a scam, but most thieves will prey on people who get blackout drunk and steal cash from their wallets, but they're usually nice enough not to steal your entire wallet, passport or phone, just most of your cash, but usually not all of it... (That happened to me more than I'd like to admit, hence I learned not to carry more than $20 or 100k riel around, although now I have an ABA account and just scan QR codes, so that's a non-issue.)

Likewise, not really a scam, but I've heard people claim that they had valuables stolen from them by hostel staff, which is hard to prove and can be turned against you if the hostel management claim you're the scammer, trying to get refunded for losing something you never had, take pictures of your valuables as proof of what you own, to avoid that from happening to you. (Someone I met swore he got his expensive camera stolen from his room, but when he called the police, the hotel management had CCTV footage "proving" no one went to his room and cops quickly turned against him, accusing him of trying to pull some sort of insurance fraud.)

A friend of mine got her ATM card cloned and her bank account emptied, but that's not really a scam either... (That can happen anywhere on Earth, always try to pull on the keypad/card scanner before using an ATM.)

I usually tell people to just use common sense, but some fucktard on this sub told me that it isn't helping people, but really, that's all there is to it. Don't give money to beggars, don't walk around with a local's monthly salary in your pockets (in case you don't know, that's $200), don't leave valuables unattended, make sure you agree on the price of a ride before getting in a tuktuk, etc... and you'll be fine.

&gt; If scams are that common yet no one talks about them, I’ll take that as my sign not to visit.

If you're scared of losing something, don't bring it on vacation with you in a third world country. I'd honestly prefer you don't visit Cambodia than visit it, have a bad experience and shit on the entire country because you did something stupid, lost money/valuables, but decided to blame the entire country for it.

servical

Chinese owned / managed apartment towers,  PP...

Dreadful people, shameless attitudes to everything...

From BS demands for money because a towel is soiled; to rip-offs regarding requesting a 2nd key card; to cheap nasty room safes not being bolted down to anything; to not caring about broken down facilities..  (a/c,  etc).

BeltnBrace

A few posters here can't differentiate scamming from stealing. As far as I can see, all the examples of scams are generic to any tourist experience anywhere in the world, avoidable by taking general tourist precautions.

phnompenhandy

1. TukTuk driver via passapp drivers saying they have no change when you pay with a with a big bill. I suggest adding your debit/credit card to rideshare apps to avoid this or carry small riel bill, or open an ABA account. Happened once on my first trip there. I only had a $20 bill and was in a rush, so I said keep the tip.
2. A middle eastern man walked up to me at Riverside by Metro Hakkasan and said he sees a bright future and wanted to talk. I told him good for you and walked into the bar. Likely trying to sell a horoscope reading or sell something.
3. A lady with a baby asking you to buy milk for the kid. After you buy it, she returns it for money. Also, heard of husband showing up and being confrontational. I never experienced this, but seen ladies with a baby. I just avoid them.

From my experiences entering my 6th trip. Scamming is less prevalent in Cambodia compared to surrounding countries (Thailand and Vietnam, but it still happens. Just ignore shady strangers approaching you. Don’t do anything they ask you to do. They’re con artists.

The money swap scam is true, but only at really shady/cheap spots. Just make sure to remember or take a pic of the serial number of the bill before they take it. The honest ones will show you the serial number before going to get change. Never experienced it.

Phone snatching happens a lot. Just don’t be oblivious on your phone while on a busy street or on a tuktuk. Don’t be an easy target.

Edit: pic for hankyspankyman69

https://preview.redd.it/h7uh6sb0qstf1.jpeg?width=1290&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;s=a3c1c3b3f0ca78974066bafcd624cad86e8fc3b4

KushySoles

I've been coming to Cambodia for work — and have lived there intermittently — for more than 20 years. I've never been taken in a tourist scam sense. But I have been taken advantage of by an early business associate. But that's not about Cambodia; happens everywhere.

DarjeelingTease

At Angkor Thom Complex some random guy flagged me down and offered to show me a less frequented area off the path of the temple. The view was nice and he asked where i was from and started naming different politicians and geography facts about the US. He then proceeded to ask me to sign a pledge and support his association. By the looks of the piece of paper, a handful of tourist had already signed and donated to him. After reading the pledge he began to pressure me to donate but little did he know I was Khmer-American and can speak Khmer. I asked where in Siem Reap his association was or if they had a website. He looked surprised and began to feel embarrassed. He then took his pledge said sorry to me and ran off.

somololo

Never been scammed here. Happened to me in Bali, Phuket and in Vietnam, but never in Cambodia.

I find funny the increase of ambivalent or orientates questions asked on the forum since the tensions with Thailand started.

Flying-Valentine

Couple I’ve seen from my 3 trips there in 2024-2025.

1) At the old airport in PP - drivers tried to scam by faking to be my Grab driver, or insisting to help me with my luggage so you get in their vehicle
-&gt; Ignore them all. check license plates of cars to match what’s shown on your app before getting in

2) 136 street bars - mamasan tried to sneak in a couple more beers than my friend and I actually had. Check the bill before paying. Don’t just pay with 100 USD bill. Try to have change on you or use riels

3) Swap your real 100 USD bills with fakes - happened to a buddy when he went for “happy pizza”. Lady came back with a different bill which was a fake

4) Darling darling @ Nagaworld - they’re there to overcharge Chinese men for a night out. Avoid. There was also a group of ladyboys that would follow patrons into the hotel elevators and try to convince you to take them/or one for the night. Also avoid

LOLBADCALL

I haven’t been scammed, but I had an interesting experience when I was staying in Phnom Penh for an extended period and so got to know a lot of people. 

I have a background in software and would talk tech with people that had similar interests. One night at a party in front of a guesthouse a group of Nigerian guys asked if they could buy me a burger and some drinks and chat. It was next door and I knew that place too, and had a decent number of beers in me, so said why not.

They were friendly and said they’d heard I was in software and basically outlined a scam operation, said they really needed someone with my skill set they could trust, and that we’d all make more money than we knew what to do with.

I must have looked apprehensive because they said just think about it and they’d come back.

They came back a few days later and I nicely said I’d thought about but wasn’t interested.

Weird experience.

nomadakai

Not a scam as such - just theft - but twice I have had cleaners in a rented apartment steal stuff. The cleaners were compulsory &amp; paid by the owners. 
Theft happens everywhere and is not really reflective on Cambodia.

Soukchai2012

yuiop300

Never been scammed... What are you going on about?

Own-Western-6687

I've been there 6 times, and not scammed once. No one even tried to scam me.

meansamang

None, I've been in Cambodia for more than twenty years and nobody has "scammed" me.

Hankman66

After living here for almost 9 years, the biggest “scam” I’ve experienced is getting my helmet stolen twice. In general, Cambodians are nice and welcoming people and just like everywhere there are some jerks and opportunistic people. So to avoid losing stuff, just use common sense, like locking your helmets into your bike and avoiding sketchy places at night and you will have a wonderful time.

HiroFuiton

I've spent 14 months in Cambodia and no one has tried to scam me. No bag snatching attempts. Nothing.

In Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, district 1), I get approached by foreigners who say they got robbed or trafficked and beg me for money, and twice someone has tried to bag snatch me. In the Philippines (Cebu City) the taxi drivers will "forget" to reset the meter between their last passenger and your trip, so you pay extra.

But nothing in Cambodia. In my experience, Cambodians are friendly and genuine.

glimblade

The U.S. Department of Justice seized a significant amount of Bitcoin linked to a massive fraud scheme, highlighting organized cybercrime issues.

Bitcoin Seizure from Cambodia Fraud Scam

Why This Matters

Public Sentiment Summary

Highlighted Comments

Parties Involved

What the people want