The chamber within the deserted Cambodian fraud facility features the well-known emblems of the Australian Federal Police on its walls, with two Australian flags positioned at either end of the desk.
However, the office is not real — it appears to have been set up by fraudsters who the Thai military claims were based at the six-storey fraud center in the border town of O'Smach, Oddar Meanchey Province.
A counterfeit AFP setup is one of several rooms designed to look like offices for police agencies from various countries, such as China, Singapore, Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
The finding comes after a warning from the AFP in November about fraudsters posing as their officials, targeting Australians for cryptocurrency.
Authorities have been targeted by fraudsters for a long time, but the pictures coming out of the Cambodian facility were particularly alarming.
"It's evidence that they are operating on a large scale," stated University of Melbourne researcher Ivan Franceschini, who studies fraudulent activities in South-East Asia.
They are focusing on various nationalities. That is frightening as they are highly skilled at it.
Inside the compound
The Thai military revealed that it found a counterfeit AFP office within the fraudulent complex following its seizure during border conflicts with Cambodia at the end of last year.
Within, it stated that it uncovered proof of international fraud, including fabricated setups for police departments from multiple nations.
During a visit to the site arranged by the Thai military, reporters and foreign observers on Monday encountered rooms filled with papers, gear, and personal items, which appeared to have been left behind quickly.
Thai authorities stated that the complex was home to thousands of individuals, several of whom were victims of human trafficking and compelled to engage in fraudulent activities.
Documents found at the location seem to include possible targets along with their contact information.
"They are highly organised. They possess strong infrastructure and systems, along with efficient workflows and numerous tactics and techniques used for scams," stated Lieutenant General Teeranan Nandhakwang, head of the Thai army's intelligence department.
The Royal Thai Army stated that Cambodian troops had utilized the facility as a military post prior to its capture.
As per a truce established in December, the nations committed to reducing hostilities and keeping their troops at the locations they held before the agreement, including the facility on Cambodian territory currently under Thai control.
Hundreds of rooms featured wooden booths covered in foam to reduce noise, scripts available in various languages, lists containing names and contact details, computer screens, and empty slots for hard drives.
Scammers 'weaponising' police authority
Although fraudsters are recognized for pretending to be government officials, they have mainly worked behind the scenes.
Professionals claim the images from O'Smach provide a glimpse into their strategies.
Dr. Franceschini mentioned that fraudsters established fake offices within compound "studios" to make their victims believe they were legitimate.
Following their initial contact through a call or message, they sought to address any uncertainties by arranging a video conversation.
The counterfeit sets did not have to be precise — just believable, he mentioned.
They need to match the image you may have of a police station office.
The fraudsters interact with individuals who may have never previously had any contact with law enforcement.
Dr. Franceschini mentioned that individuals posing as police also deceived victims in China, India, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brazil.
The Australian Federal Police previously alerted citizens that fraudsters posing as their staff were conducting video calls with Australians.
Fraudsters have employed counterfeit ReportCyber documents to trick individuals into transferring money from their digital currency accounts, utilizing their personal details, which are probably obtained from a prior data leak.
They gave reference codes to make the reports appear credible, and requested recipients to verify the reports by checking their email and accessing the ReportCyber website, according to the AFP.
Fraudsters posing as police officials sought to deceive victims by instilling a feeling of fear and urgency, according to Hai Luong, a criminology expert at Griffith University.
Images of fraudulent police stations in O'smach revealed that scam operations were "exploiting" the public's faith in law enforcement officers.
"It serves as tangible proof of how state power has transformed into a instrument for organized crime," he stated.
What is the AFP's reaction?
Professionals warn that the fraud could erode public confidence in law enforcement and exploits individuals' inherent fear of authority.
"It presents a significant challenge to address, but law enforcement organizations such as the AFP should think about allocating resources towards public education initiatives to inform individuals about the dangers," Dr Franceschini stated.
The community should remain vigilant against these kinds of fraudulent activities.
An AFP representative stated that its officers in Cambodia are collaborating with local authorities, such as the Cambodian National Police, in reaction to scam operations targeting Australians.
"The AFP is informed about fraudulent activities where individuals falsely claim to be affiliated with the AFP and other law enforcement bodies to trick people into transferring money," the representative stated.
Regrettably, these arrangements can appear very realistic, leading victims to lose money to fraudsters.
Some typical warning indicators include scammers contacting victims via phone or email, pretending to represent the AFP or other law enforcement bodies, and potentially attempting to video call their targets from a fabricated "AFP office," according to the spokesperson.
"The AFP will not reach out to you via video call, request funds, pressure you over the phone, or ask you to confirm personal or banking information," they stated.
The representative asked anyone who has been contacted by someone pretending to be from the AFP to:
- Cease all contact with the fraudster right away — if unsure, end the call and reach out to a local AFP office
- Do not send money or share any details about bank or other financial accounts
- Alert their bank or financial institution right away if they have sent money or shared any confidential details
- Report it to police
"Our dedication lies in providing every Australian with the information and tools necessary to safeguard against online fraud," stated the representative.
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