Faced this while exiting Cambodia today. One of the officials pulled me to the side and questioned how long I was in Cambodia, why I'm traveling alone & what I was doing there. While questioning he noticed I've been to Laos & Vietnam recently from my passport.

Then he said I know why you are here. You are here to work. You are not a tourist. Tell me the truth.

I replied if I was here to work I would have stayed in one city instead of visiting these places (told him where all I've been) and I'm traveling alone because I don't have a family. He was just heckling me for a bribe. So I think I got away easily even though I didn't pay.(I told him I have only Thai baht)

But How to handle this if it was serious.question.

PS I'm not a digital nomad yet. I'm still in backpacking mode and this is my first long trip & working from other countries.

Edit: Indian passport