Cambodian police have arrested 57 South Korean nationals in the capital city of Phnom Penh over their suspected links to an online extortion operation. The group, consisting of 43 men and 14 women, was detained on Friday following a police investigation.

The arrests were made in connection with a voice phishing scam. According to authorities, the suspects allegedly posed as police officers to threaten and extort money from victims located in South Korea. The group was reportedly operating out of seven separate apartments within a single condominium building in Phnom Penh.

Details of the Alleged Scam Operation

The operation dismantled by Cambodian police is an example of voice phishing, a form of fraud where criminals use phone calls to deceive individuals into giving away money or personal information. In this case, the suspects are accused of impersonating law enforcement officials to intimidate their targets. Interior Ministry spokesperson Gen. Khieu Sopheak confirmed the details of the raid and the nature of the allegations. It was noted that the arrested individuals were not reported to be victims of human trafficking, which has been associated with other cybercrime compounds in the region.

Official Response and Next Steps

Following the arrests, Gen. Khieu Sopheak stated that the 57 suspects are currently being questioned by Cambodian authorities. He also confirmed that the government is making preparations to deport all the individuals to South Korea to face legal proceedings in their home country. The spokesperson acknowledged that Cambodian officials frequently contend with foreign nationals who use the country as a base for online scams targeting victims in other nations.