Global Scam Syndicate Crumbles as Cambodia Arrests Infamous Cameroonian Conman

The scheme, dismantled in Phnom Penh on April 19, involved convincing the victim that $28 million in black-stained U.S. currency could be “cleaned” using a special powder and genuine dollars — a method widely known as the “black money scam.” Authorities have confirmed that three other suspects, described as “black men” in official statements, remain at large, having reportedly fled with the stolen funds.

Military Police Commander Rath Sreang confirmed in an April 28 statement that the suspects lured the victim by staging an elaborate demonstration involving a fake chemical process. After ingesting a “protective pill” provided by the fraudsters — allegedly to neutralize the toxic effects of the cleaning powder — the victim watched as $10,000 of seemingly real currency was produced from a machine. This manipulated success encouraged him to invest further, eventually handing over $7 million in real U.S. currency.

In return, the scammers presented him with $25 million in bundled cash, tightly wrapped in yellow tape, instructing him not to open it for several months. One month later, suspecting foul play, the victim opened the bundles — only to discover counterfeit bills and blank paper.

“This is not a joke. It’s a societal warning,” Sreang said. “Because of a moment of greed, a man who had $7 million now only has grief. It is a life lesson for anyone seeking to gain without effort.”

A Familiar Scam, Evolving Tactics

The case has drawn attention to the enduring presence of advance-fee scams in Cambodia, many of which are increasingly run by foreign nationals, including West Africans operating in sophisticated networks. While similar scams have long targeted victims via email and phone under the guise of foreign investment or humanitarian partnerships, this case reveals an evolving trend of face-to-face fraud involving staged laboratory setups and chemical theatrics.

Authorities say the group’s method mimics earlier scams involving pre-wired “trust payments,” fake investment opportunities, and photo-based manipulations to extract money from unsuspecting victims.

Despite repeated public awareness campaigns, the Phnom Penh Military Police say such operations persist and evolve.

“Greed makes fools of even the wise,” Sreang wrote on Facebook, adding: “If someone offers you a chance to double or triple your money without any effort, ask why they aren’t doing it for themselves — why they would need a stranger.”

Implications for Cameroon and Central Africa

The arrest of PDG Magloire — a cult figure in Cameroon’s underground “feyman” scene — further illustrates the global reach of Central African scam syndicates. Known locally for blending street smarts with high-stakes deception, “feymen” often operate across borders, using charm and pseudo-technical language to orchestrate complex financial traps.

Experts warn that while authorities have made arrests, the wider network behind these scams often stretches from African capitals to Southeast Asia and the Gulf, taking advantage of legal loopholes and weak financial oversight.

“This isn’t just a Cameroonian issue,” said Dr. Emmanuel Essomba, a fraud analyst based in Douala. “It’s a regional and global crisis. Magloire’s fall should alarm governments across Central Africa about what’s festering within their informal economies.”

The United States Institute for Peace recently estimated that scammers in Cambodia generated up to $12.8 billion in 2023 — nearly half the country’s formal GDP — with many operations led by foreign actors embedded in local compounds.

What measures should Cameroon take to dismantle scam networks operating overseas? Are local cultural norms glorifying ‘feymen’ enabling this trend? Can better education and digital literacy in Central Africa reduce susceptibility to such scams? And should Cambodia enhance screening and visa policies to limit transnational financial crime?