The Scam Compounds Brief – Issue 1

The Scam Compounds Brief is an ongoing analytical series by Humanity Research Consultancy Limited (HRC) that examines the evolution of transnational criminal networks, primarily Chinese-speaking syndicates, operating scam facilities. Each issue identifies emerging operational patterns, enforcement actions, and structural shifts across affected jurisdictions.

• In early 2026, the Cambodian government adopted a more aggressive stance toward scam compounds, reportedly raiding or intervening in 190 suspected scam sites.
• Cambodia arrested Chen Zhi, Chairman of the Prince Group, and extradited him to China. The Prince Group has long been identified as a major organised fraud operator with historical ties to senior government figures.
• Joint operations by Myanmar, China, and Thailand resulted in the demolition of the notorious KK Park compound in Myawaddy, a site previously believed to hold tens of thousands of individuals, including both trafficking victims and willing participants.
• Chinese authorities executed key members of the Bai and Ming families who operated prolific digital crime hubs in Myanmar, including the notorious Crouching Tiger Villa compound in Kokang.
• Despite intensified law enforcement, HRC observes no evidence that the tens of thousands of victims of trafficking and forced criminality are being accurately identified or provided with essential support services.
• HRC investigations have uncovered a growing diversity of individuals advertising their services to the organised fraud sector; these actors frequently present themselves as "models" or "AI models" to market skills related to online fraud.
• HRC identifies evidence indicates that the criminal ecosystem supporting organised fraud, particularly money laundering as a service, continues to thrive. Monitored Telegram activity reveals the prominence of third-party "guarantee" platforms, such as the Tudou channel, which provide marketplaces for a range of illicit services.