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IN BRIEF
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At the heart of a wave ofonline scams At Cambodiadozens of nationals Chinese saw their anger rise a notch after the freezing of their accountsOn April 27, 2026, protesters occupied the area around the National Bank of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, waving red and yellow flags to demand access to funds frozen since December on the platform H-Pay (ex-HuioneClashes broke out – umbrellas against batons – leaving at least two injured, while business leaders complained of frozen funds, sometimes around $50,000preventing them from paying their employees. Against this backdrop, the extradition on April 1st of former leader Li Xiong to China and the 2025 list of FinCEN for risk of whitening and alleged links with the North Korea fuel the controversy; however, the protesters maintain their innocence and demand answers from the BNC.
Quick summary: Dozens of Chinese nationals protested in front of the National Bank of Cambodia has Phnom Penh to demand access to their blocked accounts on the payment platform H-Pay (ex-Huione PayClashes between protesters and security forces resulted in injuries, while authorities attempt to unravel a network ofonline scams and of whitening of which the Huione group is suspected. The situation raises economic, legal and diplomatic questions on a regional scale.
The facts on the ground
On April 27, a crowd of Chinese citizens, waving red and yellow flags, gathered in front of the BNC to denounce the freezing of accounts on the platform H-PayThe protesters claim they owe nothing to the justice system and demand the return of their funds, which have been frozen since December.
Demonstration and clashes
The scene quickly escalated: some protesters shielded themselves with umbrellas while local security forces responded with batons. The confrontation left at least two demonstrators injured, according to witnesses. Other similar gatherings had already taken place earlier in the month, in front of the National Bank of China (BNC) and even in front of the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh.
Frozen accounts and disarray
Those present explained that their blocked accounts preventing them from paying their employees or running their small businesses. The situation has a Kafkaesque feel: entrepreneurs like Wang Xijun proclaim their support for cracking down on illegal gambling, while simultaneously demanding that ordinary citizens not be penalized. “Give back the people’s money!” chanted some in the crowd, with some claiming to have tens of thousands of dollars tied up in their accounts.
Who is behind H-Pay / Huione?
The platform in question belongs to the Huione group, formerly active in digital payments, e-commerce, and cryptocurrency exchange. In 2025, the US Treasury Department, via the FiNCEN, classified the group as a “major money laundering concern”, associating it with interests close to the North Korea and to cybercriminals in Southeast Asia.
The extradition of Li Xiong, the group’s former chairman, to China on April 1st has heightened suspicions surrounding the network. Beijing accuses him of being at the center of an online fraud and gambling organization. This extradition has left thousands of users perplexed: where did the money go? Investigations are ongoing, and the licenses of some entities linked to the group have been revoked.
To better understand the environment of digital scams in Cambodia, a detailed overview is available here: https://asiesudest.com/plongee-exclusive-dans-les-terrains-de-jeu-des-cyber-arnaques-au-cambodge/.
Victims and testimonies
The protesters are not ghosts: business owners, hotel workers, restaurant owners — all express the same frustration. Li Shangfu, for example, says he has “tens of thousands of dollars” frozen, and publicly questions: does the money even still exist?
These individual stories resonate with a series of similar cases in Southeast Asia; some victims were even abducted or drawn into cross-border networks, as recounted in the investigation into the tragic odyssey of Wang Xing: https://asiesudest.com/lodyssee-tragique-de-wang-xing-un-acteur-chinois-victime-denlevement-en-thailande-pour-un-reseau-descroquerie-en-ligne/.
Economic and human consequences
Beyond the outrage, the freezing of funds has concrete effects: unpaid wages, businesses slowing down, and accumulated debt. One business owner stated that he had been unable to pay his staff for three months due to approximately $50,000 immobilized.
On a broader level, these incidents highlight the vulnerability of poorly regulated digital platforms and the impact on populations who believed they were using reliable services. Cases related to online scams also affect other countries in the region: for example, Japanese pensioners were victims of massive scams in Thailand, a case detailed here: https://asiesudest.com/choc-au-japon-200-000-retraites-victimes-dune-vaste-escroquerie-en-thailande-un-reseau-criminel-demantele/.
Reactions from authorities and regional issues
Cambodian authorities find themselves caught between the need to cooperate with foreign partners to dismantle criminal networks and the pressure from citizens demanding swift responses. The extradition of officials such as Li Xiong and the withdrawal of licenses are signs of action, but they do not yet provide solutions for the victims.
The fight against scam centers extends beyond Cambodia: measures as harsh as the suspension of electricity supply have been taken in Thailand to counter fraudulent centers operating from Burma — illustrating the transnational dimension of the problem: https://asiesudest.com/la-thailande-suspend-lapprovisionnement-electrique-dans-cinq-regions-birmanes-pour-lutter-contre-les-centres-de-fraudes-en-ligne/.
For a weekly overview of key events in Cambodia and the region, this summary is useful: https://asiesudest.com/resume-des-faits-marquants-de-la-semaine-au-cambodge/.
Investigation and responsibilities
International and local financial authorities are conducting investigations: the FiNCEN The Huione group has already been singled out as a high-risk entity, alleging links to money laundering networks and North Korean actors. But amid blacklists, license revocations, and arrests, the central question remains: how to return funds to hundreds—perhaps thousands—of people caught in this maelstrom?
To understand the mechanisms behind these scams and how they operate on the ground, see also this in-depth investigation: https://asiesudest.com/plongee-exclusive-dans-les-terrains-de-jeu-des-cyber-arnaques-au-cambodge/.
What are the protesters demanding?
The demands are simple and urgent: unfreeze the accounts, provide a transparency on the fate of the funds, and to guarantee a clear appeals procedure. Many are demanding a definitive answer from the BNC : a statement of accounts, a repayment schedule or at least proof that the money still exists.
Anger is accompanied by a pragmatic desire: evidence, accelerated legal proceedings, and guarantees to prevent ordinary citizens from finding themselves caught in a web of corruption again.scams digital.
To delve deeper into the regional context and the repercussions of fraud networks, this article on the playing fields of cyber scams offers an illuminating complement: https://asiesudest.com/plongee-exclusive-dans-les-terrains-de-jeu-des-cyber-arnaques-au-cambodge/.
FAQ — Online scams in Cambodia: what victims want to know
Q. What happened in front of the National Bank of Cambodia April 27, 2026?
A. That day, a crowd of demonstrators, mainly citizens Chinesegathered at Phnom Penh to demand access to their blocked accounts. The demonstration, lively and at times tense, degenerated into clashes between protesters armed with umbrellas and local security agents armed with batonsmaking at least two injured.
Q. Why were these accounts frozen?
A. The accounts are hosted on the digital payments platform H-Pay (formerly Huione Pay). The Huione group, several entities of which provided services to paymente-commerce and exchanges of cryptocurrenciesis facing money laundering charges related to a vast online scam network. Foreign authorities and financial institutions have highlighted these activities, leading to the freezing of funds.
Q. Since when have the accounts been frozen?
A. The protesters explain that the blocks date from December lastly, and that many customers have not been able to access their assets for several months.
Q. Who is Li Xiong and what is his role in this case?
A. Li Xiong is the former chairman of the Huione Group, which controlled several companies offering financial and payment services. He was extradited from Cambodia to China on April 1, 2026, when Beijing accused him of being linked to a criminal organization specializing in gambling and fraud.
Q. Are there any international suspicions concerning the Huione group?
A. Yes. In 2025, the American entity FinCEN classified the group as a ” major concern regarding money laundering “, believing that some of its activities could benefit actors such as the North Korea and to cybercriminals in Southeast Asia.
Q. Are the protesters involved in the scams the group is accused of?
A. The people gathered in front of the BNC claim they are not involved in the alleged crimes. They say ordinary citizens and local entrepreneurs who used H-Pay because they considered it practical and trustworthy, and are now demanding explanations and access to their funds.
Q. What exactly are the protesters demanding?
A. They ask that the National Bank of Cambodia unblock their accounts or provide a clear answer regarding the existence and return of their funds. Some accounts mention tens of thousands of dollars frozen—one protester, for example, stated that he had $50,000 tied up, preventing him from paying his staff.
Q. Have there been other similar actions recently?
A. Yes. Other gatherings took place in April, notably in front of the BNC and theChinese embassy in Phnom Penh, a sign of rising anger since the accounts were blocked.
Q. Have the Cambodian authorities taken any measures against Huione?
A. Measures have been announced, including the license revocation for certain entities linked to the group and investigations carried out by local authorities, in coordination with international partners, in order to clarify the nature of the activities and the traceability of the funds.
Q. What can people whose accounts are frozen do?
A. They are asked to gather all documents proving ownership of the funds (statements, contracts, proof of activity) and to contact the relevant authorities — the BNCLocal financial services or their lawyers — to request information. Many are also calling for more transparent communication on the progress of investigations.
Q. Is this case likely to weaken confidence in digital payment services in Cambodia?
A. The incident clearly raises questions about the security and the transparency payment platforms. For users, the lesson is to diversify financial channels, check licenses and follow updates from authorities to avoid being trapped in the event of a provider’s failure.