From Investment Dream to Nightmare: A Chinese Citizen's Harrowing Ordeal in Cambodia
- Global Anti-Scam Org
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
By Yuna Lee
In March 2025, Yu (pseudonym), a Chinese national in his early 30s, traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with a clear and ambitious goal: to explore cashew nut cultivation and establish a trade corridor between Cambodia and China. With 100,000 RMB in cash and a carefully laid plan, Yu anticipated a profitable and rewarding venture. Instead, his journey descended into a months-long nightmare involving kidnapping, forced labor in scam compounds, and systematic bribery across various layers of Cambodian law enforcement.
The Abduction
While waiting for a scheduled pick-up at Chip Mong Sen Sok Mall, Yu was approached by a car bearing Cambodian license plate 2AY-9486. Believing it to be his arranged transport, he approached — only to be violently forced into the vehicle by a Chinese-speaking man who pointed a gun at him and seized his mobile phone. Yu was driven across Phnom Penh to Chrey Thom, Kandal Province, where he was taken to a compound known as "JinWan" (Golden Bay).
According to Yu, Golden Bay and Golden Fortune are active scam operation, reportedly linked to the Prince Group, a major Cambodian conglomerate. Reports by Radio Free Asia and whistleblower testimony suggest Golden Fortune scam center is among numerous facilities used for telecommunications and cryptocurrency scams. (RFA, Feb 2024)
Forced Transfers and Psychological Abuse
Upon arrival, Yu was sold from one scam compound to another — a total of three different companies over his time in captivity. During each transfer, he was subjected to intimidation and manipulation. Management in the final company demanded Yu cooperate in "pig butchering" scams, a common tactic where victims are lured into fake relationships and convinced to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Yu was told to pose as a Chinese military officer on platforms like Xiaohongshu and WeChat to increase credibility with potential victims.
Non-compliance was met with threats: "If you resist, you will be locked up and electrocuted. We will hand you over to our boss to handle you personally," Yu recounted. These words were reinforced with brutal beatings whenever Yu attempted to defy orders.
Attempts to Escape and Bribery Within Police Structures
Yu eventually managed to secretly contact Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior anti-human trafficking hotline through a hidden WeChat account. However, the police, upon receiving the report, tipped off the scam syndicate management about his attempt to seek help. As a result, Yu was violently beaten by the syndicate one day before the scheduled police operation. In the aftermath, the syndicate coerced Yu into surrendering the remaining funds in his WeChat account, threatening to sell him again if he did not comply.
When local police arrived to conduct a rescue, Yu was stunned to witness management of the compound bribing the officers on the spot. Bundles of cash were handed over in front of him. Despite the raid, Yu was not taken to a victim support center but was instead held at a local police station in Kandal Province for over 30 days.
Corruption at Kandal Province
Upon arriving at the Kandal provincial police station, Yu was detained for approximately 30 days. During his questioning, he met with a deputy provincial governor (副省长) who asked why he wanted to leave the scam compound after only a few days, and even encouraged him to return to “work.” The police officer commented, “No companies would be happy if an employee only worked for a few days and then contacted the police for help.” Yu was shocked by the statement, which echoed similar experiences shared by other victims who reported that police questioned their decision to escape and discouraged them from seeking assistance.
Yu described the physical conditions at the police station as dire. The holding area lacked beds, and detainees had to endure flooding and mud on the floors. “There wasn’t even a place to lie down,” Yu shared. “All we could do was stand and watch, day after day.” He spent the entire 30-day detention in these conditions, without access to even basic comfort or hygiene.
Yu further alleged that officers at the station stole his iPhone 14 and demanded money in exchange for protection. One officer reportedly told him, “If you give me money, I will ensure you are safe. Otherwise, your safety is not guaranteed.” Yu contacted a friend, who transferred USD 528 to the officer. Later, Yu was told he had to pay an additional USD 100 to be transferred to immigration custody, or risk indefinite detention at the station.
Yu was not alone. Others in the holding cell were reportedly asked to pay similar sums. Two Chinese nationals who had entered Cambodia illegally were asked to pay USD 528 each, while one Taiwanese individual paid USD 700. These experiences align with prior testimonies from victims who contacted the Kandal police for rescue, only to be told they were unprotected because they were not referred through the Ministry of Interior or an embassy. Many also reported having their belongings stolen or being forced to pay “fees” to avoid delays.
Yu also shared alarming incidents he witnessed during his detention. One week, following a raid near Route 4, he observed a scam syndicate boss pay USD 100,000 to secure the release of two Chinese nationals from Dongbei. In another instance, seven individuals were brought into the station from Golden Fortune—five Chinese enforcers known as 打手 (fighters), two scam bosses, and four victims. The victims had been en route to another scam compound when the vehicle was stopped and all were arrested. Yu recalled seeing their translator carrying a stack of cash and overhearing discussions that “the price is going to be USD 300,000.” The translator left within 10 minutes, and all seven individuals were subsequently released.
At the Immigration Detention Center
Yu was eventually transferred to Cambodia’s immigration detention center, where he observed a system that heavily favored those who could pay. Chinese and Taiwanese detainees commonly understood that a “fee” of USD 1,500 was required to fast-track repatriation and secure release within a month. Those who could not afford the payment faced detention of up to six months.
Conditions in the center were harsh. All detainees had to sleep on the floor, and food was served only twice a day. The meals were of poor quality and insufficient to satisfy basic hunger. Daily necessities were also monetized—detainees were not allowed to bring in toilet paper from outside and had to purchase it directly from officers at USD 10 per piece. Whenever they ordered food or beverages, an additional USD 2.50 in “tips” was required by the staff.
Yu expressed frustration at being treated the same as smugglers and criminal actors. He recounted hearing stories of 飞弹 (individuals who rerouted scam victims’ money into their own accounts rather than the scam syndicate’s), as well as seeing others involved in gambling and online betting, losing significant sums—including the USD 1,500 that could have paid for their release. He emphasized that he entered Cambodia legally and was a scam victim, not a criminal. Yu believes law enforcement should receive proper training to distinguish between victims and perpetrators, rather than applying a blanket approach that punishes all equally.
Both immigration and the police have collected so much from people involved—whether victims or perpetrators," Yu reflected. "I just wish some of that could be used to improve the living conditions, to make the place more humane. After everything I’ve lost, it’s disheartening to be treated this way when I’m only a victim."
Whistleblower Exposé: Telegram Evidence of Organized Abduction
Yu returned to China in May 2025. Determined to seek justice, he filed a report with Chinese authorities and attempted to contact the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia. Turning to social media, he published his account on Little Red Book, where he found a growing community of Chinese victims with similar stories.
While browsing Telegram, Yu came across a user in a group chat who shared their own kidnapping experience and exposed details about the same trafficking syndicate that had abducted him. Recognizing the similarities, Yu shared this information with us, confirming that it involved the same group of kidnappers.
Recent findings from a whistleblower identified as “Whistleblower A” on Telegram revealed an organized, violent transport syndicate operating in Cambodia. According to the post:
"This is a Cambodian ‘forced transfer convoy’ specialized in abducting and violently transporting Chinese job seekers who are lured through fraudulent labor intermediaries and job ads. Many of the missing Chinese nationals in Cambodia—an estimated 95%—were last seen being taken by this group."
The convoy operates under the guise of labor recruitment, targeting Chinese nationals desperate for jobs. Victims are typically funneled through Phnom Penh hotels such as Yunying California Hotel and Jinggang International Hotel, where they are later abducted, silenced, and trafficked to various scam compounds across Cambodia’s border zones, including:
Poipet
Pailin
O'Smach
Bokor Mountain
Dara Sakor(七星海)
Mok Bai
The syndicate’s network includes individuals operating under usernames and aliases within “Telegram groups” (飞机群). Key figures named by the whistleblower include:
小小 (Xiaoxiao), Cambodian female
阿诚信 (Acheng0102), Chinese male
罗峰 (FENG_P), Chinese male
信达 (Car_DealerF), Cambodian male