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uncovering the secrets of an abandoned scam hub in Cambodia

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uncovering the secrets of an abandoned scam hub in Cambodia

A Cambodian compound disguised as bank branches facilitates large-scale scams targeting victims globally. It features fake police offices, elaborate scripts, and evidence of forced labor among workers.


Key Points

🕵️ Inside the Scam Compound

  • Located in O’Smach, Cambodia, near the Thai border.
  • Contained mock-up rooms imitating banks, police stations, and government offices from multiple countries (Vietnam, Australia, Singapore, China, Brazil).
  • Props included fake uniforms, badges, scripts, and counterfeit currency.

💻 Scale and Operations

  • Highly organized, resembling a corporate structure with training, finance/money laundering, and creative departments.
  • Workers used scripts for romance scams, fake police calls, and fraudulent investment schemes.
  • Evidence showed international targeting: victims across Asia, Australia, South America, and beyond.
  • Whiteboards and notebooks tracked victim progress and daily scam quotas.

⚔️ Military Context

  • Thai military seized the site during border clashes with Cambodia in late 2025.
  • Cambodia condemned Thailand’s occupation, calling it unlawful.
  • Buildings show signs of fighting: bullet holes, debris, abandoned food, and paperwork.

💰 Economic Impact

  • Scam centres are a huge industry in Southeast Asia.
  • In Cambodia alone, online fraud is estimated at $12.5 billion annually, about half the country’s GDP.
  • International pressure has led to sanctions and arrests, including Chen Zhi, a Chinese-born businessman extradited to China.

Fraudulent Operations Disguised as Banking Centers

A mock bank branch in O’Smach, Cambodia, is part of a large scam operation targeting victims worldwide, using sophisticated fraud schemes. The facility also includes fake police offices and scamming scripts for multiple countries.

A sprawling scam operation on the Thai-Cambodian border, masquerading as legitimate bank branches, particularly featuring the OCB bank’s logo. These elaborate “mock-up” rooms cater to criminal groups that orchestrate extensive fraud schemes targeting victims across Asia, Australia, and South America.

The six-floor compound in O’Smach holds rooms that mimic police offices from different countries, complete with fake uniforms and fraudulent scripts intended for deceiving victims over the phone. In a revealing media visit, it was uncovered that the site had been seized by Thai military forces after border clashes with Cambodia.

Response to Cybercrime and Intricate Scamming Tactics

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The Cambodian government has faced international scrutiny and sanctions due to rampant cybercrime, with a massive online fraud industry generating an estimated $12.5 billion annually. Thai authorities have begun tightening measures against these operations, including controlling mule accounts used for laundering the fraudulent money.

Despite pledges from Cambodia to crack down on scamming and close numerous sites, the situation remains dire. Several tactics revealed in the scam center showcase a methodically organized operation, employing emotionally manipulative scripts designed to extract money from victims. The formal structure of these scam operations, complete with training sessions and specific target demographics, reflects a disturbing trend in transnational crime that affects countless unwitting individuals.

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Aussie shares plunge, oil prices spike as war escalates

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Aussie shares plunge, oil prices spike as war escalates

The Australian share market has sharply fallen to a nearly four-month low after oil prices spiked, gold prices plunged, rate cut hopes dimmed and the war with Iran intensified.

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SailPoint, Inc. 2026 Q4 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation (NASDAQ:SAIL) 2026-03-19

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Q4: 2026-03-18 Earnings Summary

EPS of $0.08 beats by $0.00

 | Revenue of $294.65M (22.71% Y/Y) beats by $1.99M

This article was written by

Seeking Alpha’s transcripts team is responsible for the development of all of our transcript-related projects. We currently publish thousands of quarterly earnings calls per quarter on our site and are continuing to grow and expand our coverage. The purpose of this profile is to allow us to share with our readers new transcript-related developments. Thanks, SA Transcripts Team

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Applecross resident sues neighbour over alleged blocked river views

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Applecross resident sues neighbour over alleged blocked river views

A spat over river views between owners of multi-million-dollar houses in Applecross has escalated to the state’s highest court.

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Inflation to stay sticky, Jahangir Aziz rules out Fed rate cuts in 2026

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Inflation to stay sticky, Jahangir Aziz rules out Fed rate cuts in 2026
As geopolitical tensions intensify and crude oil markets react sharply, investors are facing a complex mix of inflation risks, monetary policy uncertainty, and shifting global supply dynamics. In a conversation with ET Now, economist Jahangir Aziz from JPMorgan suggested that the current situation is far more layered than what headline indicators like Brent crude prices may imply.

Speaking on the scale of the escalation, Aziz said, “Look, it is very difficult to say how bad or how big it is going to be or how long it is going to last.” He noted that while the recent spike in oil prices reflects rising market anxiety, “the spike in the oil market clearly shows you that the market is nervous… but that is not the story.” According to him, the global oil market has become increasingly fragmented, making widely tracked benchmarks less relevant for key economies. “The oil market has been fragmented completely… Brent reflects the Atlantic Basin, but countries like China and India depend on the Middle East,” he said, adding that regional benchmarks tell a more accurate story. “Oman and Dubai prices were already above 150… and the India basket was at $145,” Aziz pointed out, concluding that “we need to stop looking at Brent… Oman and Dubai prices are what really matter for Asian economies.”

On the US Federal Reserve’s policy outlook, Aziz pushed back against expectations of easing, maintaining that his view has consistently ruled out rate cuts this year. “We did not have a rate cut in 2026 in the beginning of the year and in fact, the next move would be a rate hike in 2027,” he said. He emphasized that this assessment is rooted in labour market dynamics rather than recent geopolitical developments. “This has nothing to do with the war… it was based on US labour market dynamics,” Aziz explained. Even modest job growth, he argued, could sustain inflationary pressures. “Even a modest improvement in jobs… will push wages up and keep inflation above 2%,” he said. He also highlighted a more cautious stance from the Fed on energy-driven inflation, noting that policymakers indicated they would not look through such price increases “too likely.”

Turning to bond markets, Aziz said the more important development is not just the rise in yields but the shift in expectations reflected in the yield curve. “The market took the Fed call in a hawkish tone… and flattened the curve,” he observed, adding that “it is the flattening… rather than the move up in the 10-year rate that is the bigger story.” As inflation concerns persist and hopes for rate cuts fade, he expects this trend to continue. “As hopes of rate cuts in 2026 fade… you are going to see much more flattening,” he said. Aziz also warned that if inflation becomes entrenched, it could start affecting demand. “If inflation becomes sticky… you are going to start seeing demand destruction,” he said, adding that even the anticipation of such a slowdown could influence market pricing. “In a demand destruction environment… it is hard to see the 10-year actually blow up,” he noted.

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Overall, Aziz’s assessment points to a more complex global backdrop where traditional indicators may not fully capture underlying risks. With oil markets fragmenting, inflation staying persistent, and central banks remaining cautious, investors may need to look beyond surface-level signals to navigate the evolving landscape.


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Micron Technology, Inc. 2026 Q2 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation (NASDAQ:MU) 2026-03-19

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Q2: 2026-03-18 Earnings Summary

EPS of $12.20 beats by $3.47

 | Revenue of $23.86B (196.29% Y/Y) beats by $4.35B

This article was written by

Seeking Alpha’s transcripts team is responsible for the development of all of our transcript-related projects. We currently publish thousands of quarterly earnings calls per quarter on our site and are continuing to grow and expand our coverage. The purpose of this profile is to allow us to share with our readers new transcript-related developments. Thanks, SA Transcripts Team

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Nike and Ja Morant Unveil ‘Jurassic Park’ Sneaker Pack for Nike Ja 3

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Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Nike Basketball and Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant have partnered with the iconic “Jurassic Park” franchise to launch a themed sneaker pack for the Nike Ja 3, blending cinematic nostalgia with high-performance basketball design.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant attempting to dunk the basketball during his rookie season in the NBA.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant attempting to dunk the basketball during his rookie season in the NBA.

The collaboration, unveiled in mid-March 2026, features two distinct colorways — the “Raptor” and “Explorer” — inspired by the 1993 Steven Spielberg film and its enduring legacy. The pack draws from Morant’s personal affinity for the movie series, channeling elements like Velociraptor motifs, amber fossils and classic park branding into the signature silhouette.

The Nike Ja 3 “Raptor” (style code IU7240-001) adopts a menacing anthracite base with yellow ochre and bright crimson accents, mimicking the scaly texture and predatory vibe of the film’s raptors. Jagged overlays fade from golden yellow to dark grey, evoking dinosaur skin, while red “blood” accents on the branding add intensity. The tongue features the classic Jurassic Park logo in red, and the insoles display a duo of Velociraptors — one per shoe — that combine for a full scene when paired.

The “Explorer” (IU7240-300) pays homage to the iconic Jurassic Park tour vehicles, with a tropical-inspired palette including green and earthy tones. Details replicate the truck’s rugged aesthetic, complete with park emblems and subtle nods to the film’s adventure elements.

Both pairs include collectible extras: custom graphic insoles forming a dinosaur panorama, amber egg-shaped hangtags preserving Morant’s logo like the movie’s DNA-trapped mosquito, and special packaging that extends the theme. The design continues the narrative-driven approach that has defined the Ja 3 line since its 2025 debut, with Morant emphasizing personal storytelling in his signatures.

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The pack releases Friday, April 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET via Nike SNKRS, Nike.com and select retailers. Pricing starts at $135 for men’s sizes, $112 for big kids (GS) and $97 for little kids (PS). Full-family sizing ensures accessibility for collectors and young fans alike.

The collaboration arrives amid a strong rollout for the Ja 3, Morant’s third signature model. Since launching in August 2025, the shoe has gained traction for its low-to-the-ground feel, responsive cushioning and bold aesthetics tailored to Morant’s explosive style. Earlier 2026 drops included playful themes and homages, but the Jurassic Park pack stands out for its scale and cultural tie-in.

Morant, sidelined at times this season due to injuries, has remained a creative force off the court. He has teased unreleased Ja 3 looks on social media, building hype for upcoming releases. The “Jurassic Park” project marks one of his most ambitious co-design efforts, blending his love for the franchise with Nike’s storytelling expertise.

Sneaker enthusiasts and film fans have reacted positively to the reveal, with early images generating buzz on platforms like Instagram and X. Commentators praise the attention to detail — from the amber hangtag to the combined insole art — as elevating the pack beyond typical athlete collabs.

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The drop aligns with broader trends in basketball footwear, where narrative-driven partnerships increasingly dominate. Nike’s success with licensed IP collaborations, including past film and pop culture tie-ins, positions this pack for strong demand.

As April 10 approaches, anticipation builds for what could be one of the standout releases of 2026. For Morant, the project reinforces his influence in sneaker culture, extending his impact beyond the hardwood.

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Bitcoin price today: slides below $71k as traders pare Fed cut bets

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Bitcoin price today: slides below $71k as traders pare Fed cut bets

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WA appoints fuel controller

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WA appoints fuel controller

The state government has appointed a state fuel controller to oversee the distribution of petrol and diesel supplies, particularly to the regions, where shortages are becoming more evident.

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Qantas Group reports $1.46b profit and announces sweeping reset for Frequent Flyer program.

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