Cambodia Extradites Alleged Online Scam Leader Chen Zhi to China

Cambodia has extradited Chen Zhi, a businessman accused of running one of the world’s largest online scam operations, sending him to China in a move that underscores growing international pressure on cybercrime networks. The case has drawn global attention because the alleged fraud schemes targeted victims across multiple countries, including the United States.

Chen Zhi, also known as Vincent Chen, is the former chairman of Prince Group, a Cambodia-based business empire that included casinos, real estate, and financial services. While the group publicly presented itself as a legitimate conglomerate, U.S. and international investigators allege that parts of the operation were used to conceal massive online scam activities and money-laundering operations.

According to U.S. prosecutors, Chen was linked to hundreds of scam centers across Southeast Asia that specialized in online investment fraud, romance scams, and so-called “pig-butchering” crypto schemes. In these scams, victims were slowly groomed online and persuaded to invest in fake cryptocurrency or trading platforms. Authorities say that hundreds of victims, including at least 250 Americans, lost money through these operations, with individual losses in some cases reaching alleged hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Cambodia’s decision to extradite Chen Zhi followed the revocation of his citizenship in late 2025. He was transferred to Chinese authorities on January 6, 2026, even though U.S. prosecutors had also filed charges against him for wire fraud and money laundering. Legal analysts say China moved swiftly due to Chen’s nationality and the scale of alleged financial harm involving Chinese victims.

Before the extradition, U.S. authorities had already targeted Chen and related companies with sanctions and asset freezes. Investigators believe the alleged scam network moved billions of dollars through cryptocurrency and shell companies, highlighting how scammers use digital assets to hide and transfer stolen money.

Although Chen was not extradited to the United States, the case still matters to U.S. victims. It reflects growing global cooperation against online fraud and sends a message that large scam operations are increasingly being disrupted. Asset tracing and parallel investigations may still help identify funds that could support future recovery efforts.