Pakistani IT worker urges better verification after mistaken cybercrime arrest in Cambodia

A Pakistani IT worker, Syed Aon Muhammad Rizv, has returned to Kampot province with his wife after spending months in immigration detention. He says his case, in which he was wrongly suspected of online scam-related crimes, should push Cambodian authorities to improve how they check evidence.

He was arrested on May 31 at the home of his Cambodian fiancée over allegations that he had taken part in cyber scam operations. He was later placed under a deportation order and held in a Preah Sihanouk detention centre until his release on September 4.

The release followed repeated complaints filed by his partner with the Ministry of Interior. She eventually managed to raise his case with senior officials, leading to a review of his situation. He was told that a mistake had been made.

How suspects are identified

At first, authorities said he was residing in Cambodia illegally and that his arrest came after a tip-off. His current visa and work permit papers were later examined, challenging that description.

Rizv said the episode highlights a basic problem: information must be verified before it becomes the basis for an arrest. He compared the process to work in technology, where a system alert is not treated as proof of guilt. Instead, engineers check the data and compare it with other sources before drawing a conclusion.

He now hopes to continue working in Cambodia, using skills in information technology, digital marketing, search engine optimisation, websites, online platforms and technology projects to help people spot scam schemes.

Enforcement should be smarter, not only stricter

Rizv said he backs strong action against genuine scam operations, online fraud, hacking, human trafficking, forced cybercrime and organised digital crime. But he argued that investigations should rely on verified digital evidence rather than a single technical clue.

He pointed out that communicating with a suspicious account is not, by itself, proof that someone belongs to a scam network. Investigators should first determine what the connection actually means, he said.

He illustrated his point with an analogy: people would not be arrested for being near the scene of a bank robbery unless there was evidence tying them to the crime. For cybercrime, he said, that evidence is often digital, including records, financial trails, witness accounts or technical links.

He also suggested that foreigners who are arrested or deported may represent only the visible part of larger criminal networks. Some could be minor participants or victims, while organisers remain hidden. He said high-level operators may have moved abroad, while others may still be in Cambodia but difficult to track because their true identities, financial links, digital infrastructure and roles are not public.

Everyday scam risks

Rizv warned that almost anyone can be targeted by online fraud. He described simple examples that can still cause major financial harm:

• A person receives a message saying a bank account has a problem, clicks a link, then enters a password or one-time code.
• Another sees a fake investment opportunity on Telegram or Facebook.
• Someone installs an app that appears legitimate but collects private data.

He said Cambodia has the chance to strengthen its response by combining law enforcement with cybersecurity, digital forensics and public education. The goal, he added, is to ensure enforcement catches organisers without turning innocent people into suspects.