界面调查: 柬埔寨诈骗大佬陈志的前世今生

Core Points - Chen Zhi, a prominent figure in Cambodia's real estate sector, has been accused of leading a massive international fraud operation, resulting in the seizure of approximately $15 billion worth of Bitcoin by U.S. authorities [2][7][10] - The Prince Holding Group, founded by Chen Zhi, is implicated in extensive scams and money laundering activities, with the majority of its income derived from illegal operations [12][14][22] - Chen Zhi's operations have drawn attention from multiple countries, leading to sanctions and investigations into his business practices and connections with government officials [6][15][33] Company Overview - Prince Holding Group is one of Cambodia's largest conglomerates, claiming to operate over 100 business entities across more than 30 countries, with significant investments in real estate, financial services, and tourism [12][22] - The group has been involved in various legitimate business ventures, but many of these are reportedly unprofitable and serve primarily to disguise fraudulent activities [12][14] - Chen Zhi's real estate investments in Cambodia are estimated to exceed $2 billion, including major developments like the Prince Plaza in Phnom Penh [12] Fraud Operations - Chen Zhi is accused of establishing at least 10 scam centers in Cambodia, where thousands of workers were trafficked and coerced into executing large-scale online fraud [7][11] - The primary method of fraud employed by the Prince Holding Group is known as "pig butchering," a sophisticated investment scam targeting victims globally [11][14] - Evidence from the indictment includes detailed records of profits and operational strategies for various scams, indicating a highly organized and systematic approach to fraud [3][4][11] Financial Implications - The indictment reveals that the Prince Holding Group generated an estimated daily income of over $30 million from fraudulent activities, amounting to an annual revenue of approximately $11 billion, which is nearly one-third of Cambodia's GDP [14] - Chen Zhi's operations have resulted in significant financial losses for victims worldwide, with estimates of total losses exceeding billions of dollars [7][10] Legal Actions and Investigations - U.S. authorities have initiated legal proceedings against Chen Zhi and his associates, with charges including wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, potentially leading to a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison [11][14] - The U.S. Department of Justice has identified 128 companies and 18 individuals associated with the Prince Holding Group for sanctions, many of which are offshore shell companies with no legitimate business activities [22][25] Community and Public Perception - Despite the serious allegations, Chen Zhi has maintained a public image as a philanthropist in Cambodia, funding various charitable initiatives and educational programs [32][33] - The Cambodian government has expressed a willingness to cooperate with investigations but has defended Chen Zhi's business practices as compliant with local laws [33]