A group of 73 South Koreans involved in online scam operations in Cambodia were forcibly returned home for investigation. They were detained following a joint probe by South Korean and Cambodian authorities, accused of swindling $33.1 million from 869 victims. Upon arrival in Incheon, they were taken into custody for further legal procedures.
The suspects, mostly in their 20s and 30s, were escorted by police and wore casual attire due to the warm Cambodian weather. Among them, 70 individuals are linked to online fraud schemes like romance scams, while three face charges of robbery and gambling. Notably, a couple used deep fake technology to scam 104 people of $10.1 million.
The suspects’ activities spanned various locations in Cambodia, with authorities raiding seven criminal compounds and rescuing torture victims. The operation involved multiple South Korean agencies, including the National Police Agency and the justice ministry. Investigations are ongoing, with plans to extend the suspects’ detention for further questioning.
