AKP Phnom Penh, September 18, 2026 --

Cambodia recognises online scams as a serious problem and acknowledges that the Kingdom is also a victim of this transnational crime, said Minister of Information H.E. Neth Pheaktra at a press conference this afternoon.

To address this transnational crime, the Royal Government of Cambodia will host an International Conference on Combating Online Scams in Phnom Penh on Sept. 23-24, 2026, under the theme “Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams.”

The hosting of the conference is not merely an international event, but demonstrates the Royal Government’s political will, responsibility and openness in addressing the growing threat posed by this crime, he said.

H.E. Neth Pheaktra said the conference also represents Cambodia’s call for stronger collective action by the international community to combat online scams, which have increasingly become a transnational criminal threat.

According to the Minister, Cambodia has established cooperation with a number of countries, including China, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, ASEAN member states and other countries, to tackle technology-facilitated scams.

At the same time, H.E. Mok Chansothea, Secretary of State at the Office of the Council of Ministers and Vice Chairman of the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams, said online scam operations are complex and interconnected, involving organised networks operating across national borders.

H.E. Mok Chansothea described online scams as a form of transnational organised crime that requires countries to work together rather than address the problem individually.

The decision to organise the international conference aims to bring together senior officials, policymakers and law enforcement authorities from participating countries to discuss the evolving threat and exchange views and approaches on effective measures to combat online scams.

The conference is also being organised with the support and cooperation of three international organisations.

It is expected to provide an opportunity for participating countries and relevant stakeholders to strengthen coordination, share practical experiences and explore collective approaches to disrupting transnational scam networks.

According to the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams, from July 2025 through Aug. 31, 2026, Cambodia has frozen more than US$300 million in bank accounts linked to online scam crimes, while 446 cases involving 3,927 suspects have been sent to court.

Authorities have also taken legal action against officials found to be involved in online scam activities. Four cases involving 15 suspects have been handled, including a deputy prosecutor, a deputy director-general of immigration, a deputy Phnom Penh municipal police commissioner, a former director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as police and military officials.

The report added that specialised law enforcement forces, acting under the Government’s directives, inspected 832 suspected locations and launched crackdown operations at 663 of them.

Among these, authorities cracked down on and took control of 86 major scam compounds, with competent authorities currently undertaking legal procedures for their confiscation in accordance with the law.

By Heng Panha