CAMBODIA (TR) – Cameras for TBS News (Mar. 13) entered the base of operations for a fraud ring that targeted countries around the world, including Japan.
The headquarters is located in Cambodia but at the border with Thailand. Following a military clash between the two countries last year, the Thai military seized the base. It recently opened its interior to some media outlets.
The ring specialized in tokushu sagi, or specialized fraud. This type of fraud is carried out on the telephone by a caller impersonating an authority figure or a victim’s relative.
A camera for the network showed what appeared to be fake police stations from multiple countries, including China and Brazil. They were created so perpetrators could pose as members of law enforcement when targeting victims via video calls.
The base contained various facilities such as restaurants, shops and hair salons. It is believed that more than 10,000 people lived together while conducting fraud targeting countries around the world.
Furthermore, there were traces suggesting the presence of Japanese citizens. In one room, there were a large number of items left behind, including what appears to be a Japanese manual for making fraudulent phone calls. There were also notes that seem to contain personal information of Japanese citizens.
Cambodia has seen a series of crackdowns on specialized fraud-related groups in recent years.
The Thai military, which opened the fraud base to the public, stated that “specialized fraud is a threat to people all over the world, including Japan, and must be eradicated.”
