AKP Phnom Penh, September 6, 2026 --

As rapid digital transformation sweeps across Southeast Asia, online scams have emerged as one of the most pressing threats to regional security, economic stability, and human rights. 

Sophisticated scam networks operate across national boundaries, taking advantage of jurisdictional gaps and emerging technologies. Far from remaining passive, the Royal Government of Cambodia is asserting strong, proactive leadership to confront and dismantle these criminal networks.

By hosting the International Conference on Combating Online Scams in Phnom Penh on Sept. 23-24, 2026, under the central theme "Acting Together Towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams," Cambodia is sending an unequivocal message to the global community: the Kingdom possesses the political determination, institutional mechanisms, and enforcement capabilities required to root out cyber-enabled transnational crime.

This high-level conference marks a critical juncture in regional security cooperation. Gathering foreign delegates, law enforcement officials, diplomatic representatives, cybersecurity leaders, and international non-governmental organisations, Phnom Penh will serve as a global hub for tactical, policy, and intelligence coordination.

Convening this international body underscores Cambodia's recognition that online scams cannot be fought in isolation, but demands a cross-border response.

Concrete Enforcement Milestones and Structural Results

Cambodia’s political commitment is reflected in real, measurable operational outcomes executed through a rigorous, nationwide multi-agency strategy. From July 2025 through Aug. 31, 2026, Cambodia has frozen more than US$300 million in bank accounts linked to online scam crimes. The measures demonstrate the authorities’ firm enforcement of the law and efforts to cut off the financial flows and proceeds of criminal online scam networks, it said.

Meanwhile, judicial proceedings are actively underway to prosecute offenders in accordance with the law. Authorities have prepared and submitted 446 cases involving 3,927 accused persons from 29 nationalities to the courts, including masterminds and accomplices.

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.

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 toward their confiscation in accordance with the law.

Besides, in April 2026, Cambodia enacted the landmark Law on Combating Technology-Enabled Scams, establishing tough legal penalties – including life imprisonment for grave offences – to build a permanent legal barrier against digital crime.

Adapting Strategies for a Unified Global Front

As law enforcement pressure intensifies, cyber-syndicates continuously adapt by decentralising into smaller, covert operations. Recognising these evolving tactics, Cambodian authorities maintain continuous, adaptive inspection and enforcement efforts nationwide to ensure criminal groups find no safe quarter.

The upcoming Phnom Penh conference highlights Cambodia’s comprehensive and coordinated approach: combining internal enforcement and legislative reform with international intelligence-sharing, digital financial regulation, and public-private cooperation. By hosting key international stakeholders this September, Cambodia is transforming regional anti-scam efforts from reactive measures into a coordinated, offensive global front.

Through sustained political will, concrete enforcement results, and active diplomatic leadership, the Royal Government of Cambodia is demonstrating to the world its unyielding commitment to stamping out online scams once and for all.

AKP