Phenomenon of so-called "scam centers" in Cambodia represents one of the most alarming forms of modern slavery, arising at the intersection of global digitalization and organized crime. These establishments, masquerading as legal IT companies or gambling platforms, are in reality prisons where thousands of people, mainly foreigners, are held against their will and coerced into engaging in internet fraud. The scale of this phenomenon, which came to the fore in the early 2020s, demonstrates how technological progress can be twisted for human exploitation. Architecture of fraud and forced labor Scam centers are usually located in large complexes of mansion houses or office buildings, often in border cities such as Sihanoukville, or in the capital Phnom Penh. Their physical architecture includes reinforced perimeters, bars on windows, and round-the-clock armed security, making escape almost impossible. Inside, workers are kept in unsanitary conditions, sleep on the floor in heaps, and receive meager food. Their labor is organized on a strict schedule, involving up to 15-18 hours of work per day. The main activity involves creating fake profiles on social networks and dating sites for subsequent "romantic scam" or committing financial fraud on fake cryptocurrency trading and investment platforms. Recruitment mechanisms and the position of the victims Victims of these centers are mainly lured through deceptive employment schemes. Citizens of various countries, including China, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and even countries in Africa and Latin America, are recruited through professional social networks and messengers. They are offered high-paying jobs in the IT, marketing, or customer service sectors in Cambodia, with promises of full visa support and comfortable housing. Upon arrival in the country, their passports are taken away, and they find themselves completely under the control of criminal groups. Methods of physical violence, electroshock torture, be ... Read more