A Siem Reap man, who allegedly using artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake news and solicit charitable donations through multiple Facebook accounts, has been arrested.
“On the evening of July 8, the Siem Reap Provincial Police, in cooperation with the Anti-Technology Crime Department and under the coordination of the Siem Reap Provincial Court Prosecutor’s Office, arrested one suspect in connection with spreading fake news to raise funds from the public,” stated the department.
The suspect reportedly operated a Facebook account named “Khmer Khmer” and four additional accounts — Hong Phea, Me Siem Reap, Ah Su and Mae Siem Reap — to publish fabricated stories and collect donations under different identities.
“These fraudulent activities include fundraising for military heroes stationed at the Cambodia-Thailand border, promoting a false story about a grieving wife unable to afford a coffin for her deceased husband, and generating AI-produced images of orphans to deceive philanthropists. QR codes were also attached to these images to receive donations from the public,” explained the department.
The suspect has been referred to the Siem Reap Provincial Court for legal proceedings.
