Key facts
- Lim Heng Group leased buildings on its casino grounds to operators of scam and human trafficking operations.
- The leased properties were used to create fake police stations and bank offices for impersonation scams.
- A rental agreement shows three buildings were leased for two years at $200,000 per month.
- Lim Heng Group was notified of possible trafficking activities at its casino in September 2024.
- Thai security reports link Lim Heng to the site used for cyberfraud.
A gambling empire controlled by a powerful Cambodian tycoon, Lim Heng Group, leased buildings on its casino grounds to operators of large-scale scam and human trafficking operations, Reuters has found. The rental agreement, dated March 2024, shows that Lim Heng Group leased out structures on grounds shared with its casino, Royal Hill, at above-market rates.
These structures were transformed into backdrops for impersonation scams, mimicking police stations and bank offices from various countries to defraud victims globally. Interviews with Thai military personnel and individuals who worked in these buildings, along with Reuters' visits to the property, confirmed the scam activities. This marks the first report detailing Lim Heng Group's commercial ties to buildings used for such criminal enterprises, located just meters from its casino.
Reuters found no direct evidence linking Lim Heng Group to the scamming or human trafficking operations themselves. The news agency's attempts to contact Royal Hill for comment were unsuccessful. Legal experts suggest landlords can be charged if they are aware of criminal use of their property and permit it to continue. Lim Heng Group was reportedly put on notice of possible trafficking activities at Royal Hill in September 2024, when its representative filed a legal complaint against two Cambodian publishers who had reported on foreigners being confined at the casino compound.
Thai security agency reports indicate Lim Heng's ownership of the site, which has been used for cyberfraud. Southeast Asia is a hub for such fraud operations, often run by Chinese-led gangs who detain victims and coerce them into scams. The U.S. government estimates Americans lost $10 billion to fraudsters in the region in 2024. Experts note that Chinese-affiliated syndicate operators often use casinos to launder illicit gains. An Amnesty International investigation suggested Cambodian casino owners directly controlled numerous scam centers.
The rental agreement viewed by Reuters specified that Royal Hill would rent three buildings to a Chinese national for two years at $200,000 per month. This price is significantly higher than comparable properties in the area. The Thai military, which now occupies the site after bombing the casino during a border conflict in December, stated they wanted to display evidence of its use as a scam facility. The Cambodian government has pledged to eradicate scam centers but has described Royal Hill as merely a hotel.