Cybercrime Fueling War? Thai-Cambodian Conflict Linked to “Cyber Slave” Scams

The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, rooted in a longstanding territorial dispute and controversies surrounding the Angkor temple, has once again flared into armed confrontation. This time, however, the escalation is driven not only by historical and cultural disagreements but also by modern digital threats—chiefly, the operations of transnational criminal networks exploiting Cambodian territory to run “cyber slave” compounds.

Amid the rising tensions, Thailand has threatened to cut off electricity and internet access to border areas of Cambodia, aiming to disrupt the operation of fraudulent camps located near the contested zone. These camps are very real: according to Interpol and human rights organizations, thousands of individuals are lured with promises of high-paying jobs, only to be forcibly detained and coerced into participating in telephone scams, including romance cons and investment fraud schemes.

The United Nations estimates the number of victims at over 100,000, while Amnesty International has condemned such compounds as “hellish factories of deception,” operating with the tacit consent of Cambodian authorities. The United States shares this assessment, having imposed personal sanctions on a Cambodian senator for human rights violations linked to these camps.

China is also engaged in efforts to dismantle these criminal schemes, as many of the victims are Chinese nationals and the camps are frequently run by Chinese organized crime syndicates. Thailand, as part of its national policy, is actively repatriating victims, and the threat to sever communication infrastructure is seen as a natural extension of its campaign against these illicit networks.

According to experts, however, this measure may have exacerbated tensions. Angela Suriyaseni, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), believes that while the shutdown threat was not the direct trigger for gunfire, it intensified mistrust and friction between the nations. Adam Russell of Between the Lines Research echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that Chinese online scam hubs and the financial flows they generate are critical backdrops to the conflict—ones that cannot be overlooked.

Cambodian opposition leader-in-exile Sam Rainsy has also accused Prime Minister Hun Sen’s regime of profiting directly from the operation of these camps. In a statement posted to Facebook, he described them as the primary obstacle to resolving the dispute with Thailand. These allegations resonate among analysts: Suriyaseni notes that elements within the Cambodian elite may be benefiting from the existence of these camps and actively facilitating their impunity.

By her estimation, the scale of the industry is staggering: revenues from Cambodia’s fraudulent centers could reach $12.5 billion annually—nearly half the country’s GDP.

Despite a ceasefire being brokered, the conflict has resulted in more than 30 deaths and displaced tens of thousands. Should it be confirmed that digital scam networks contributed to the outbreak of violence, then cybercrime will have crossed a terrifying threshold—claiming not just psychological and financial victims, but human lives as well.

And despite the public pledges by tech platforms to combat misinformation and cybercrime, this episode lays bare how devastating the consequences of digital inaction can truly be.