On January 6, 2026, Cambodian authorities arrested Chen Zhi (founder and chairman of Prince Group) along with two other Chinese nationals following a months-long joint investigation into transnational crime.
China’s state media (CCTV) confirmed his extradition shortly after, describing him as the “head of a major cross-border gambling and fraud syndicate” suspected of operating casinos, fraud, illegal business operations, and concealing criminal proceeds. Footage of Zhi arriving in China under armed guard was released on January 8, 2026.
Prince Group is widely linked to the wave of “click a button” app Ponzi schemes that exploded from 2021–2024.
These low-effort mobile scams promised daily returns for logging in and “clicking a button” — with ruses ranging from crypto mining, quantitative trading, AI, sports betting, to stolen brand “task” schemes.
The industry, primarily operated by Chinese groups from hubs in Cambodia, Myanmar, and other Southeast Asian locations, is believed to have defrauded billions globally. Many factories involved human-trafficked workers forced to run the scams.
Zhi reportedly renounced Chinese citizenship and obtained Cambodian nationality to avoid extradition — a shield that was revoked by royal decree in December 2025, clearing the path for his arrest.
Prince Group is not the only player, but Zhi’s arrest marks one of the highest-profile takedowns in the “click a button” ecosystem.
BehindMLM tracking shows a sharp drop in new launches:
Media scrutiny, international law enforcement pressure, and the bombing of at least one scam compound in Myanmar contributed to the decline.
For now, the model appears largely suppressed, though new variants (e.g., LoomX in early 2026) still emerge.
Chen Zhi’s arrest and extradition are a significant win for cross-border law enforcement against large-scale MLM crypto fraud networks.
It also serves as a reminder that many “high-yield” mobile app schemes promising daily returns via simple clicks have historically been Ponzi structures, often controlled from Southeast Asian crime hubs.
