The Big Scam Boss: What Happened to Chen Zhi?

Accusations and Extradition

Chen Zhi, a wealthy businessman, has been sent back to China from Cambodia. He is accused of orchestrating a huge online scam that defrauded people out of billions in digital money. Workers were allegedly tricked into participating in the scam against their will.

Chen Zhi, along with two other Chinese individuals, was apprehended in Cambodia and extradited to China on Wednesday. The Cambodian government claims they collaborated on the scam. Notably, Chen Zhi was once a Cambodian citizen, but his status changed last month.

Global Legal Actions

The U.S. government accuses Chen Zhi's company, Prince Group, of stealing vast sums of money. Authorities have frozen approximately $14 billion in digital assets linked to him. The U.K. has also taken action against his businesses.

Chen Zhi's company maintains that it engages in legitimate business activities, including property development and financial services.

Long-Running Scams and Forced Labor

Chen Zhi's company is accused of running online scams for years. Chinese authorities have been investigating since at least 2020, describing the company as a large criminal organization based in Cambodia. Many victims, primarily from China, were forced to work in these fraudulent operations.

Political Ties and Economic Concerns

Cambodian leaders have had a long-standing relationship with Chen Zhi. The government has remained silent on the U.S. and U.K. accusations. Some analysts believe that scam businesses could make up half of Cambodia's economy. It remains surprising that Chen Zhi's operations grew so large without broader scrutiny.