Cambodia to Host High-Level International Conference on Combating Tech Scams

Cambodia is set to host an international conference on combating cyber scams in Phnom Penh from September 23-24, 2026. The event, themed 'Jointly Towards Severing the Chain and Ending Cyber Scams,' will feature high-level participation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sar Sokha. Sar Sokha will deliver a keynote address on 'Cyber Scams: An Urgent Global Issue,' addressing the causes of increasing cyber fraud, its links to other criminal activities, the mechanisms and outcomes of crackdowns by the Ministry of Interior, challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and the importance of international cooperation and commitment. His speech is expected to highlight the Cambodian government's priorities in combating cyber fraud, practical experiences from enforcement operations, and key points for international consideration to enhance global efforts against this transnational crime. Keo Vannthann, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior, will also present on 'Regional and Global Responses to Cyber Scams.' The conference will draw participation from representatives of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Secretariat, the FBI, the Australian Federal Police, the ASEAN Secretariat, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and INTERPOL, discussing the complexities of cyber fraud and potential solutions. The conference is supported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, INTERPOL, and the Mekong-Lancang Law Enforcement Cooperation and Integration Center. In the first half of 2026, Cambodian authorities, in collaboration with the National Police and provincial administrations, cracked down on 488 cyber scam locations, arresting 20,926 suspects from 38 nationalities. Of these, 2,637 were sent to court, and 1,666 received educational contracts. Investigations covered 28,512 locations and involved over 21,000 street patrols, leading to the discovery of 2,340 suspects and evidence, along with undocumented foreigners from 20 nationalities. Among the 46,474 foreigners deported, 16,874 were linked to cyber fraud activities across 34 nationalities. Furthermore, 30 victims were identified (25 for sexual exploitation, 5 for human trafficking), leading to the arrest of 18 suspects and identification of 8 others. Enforcement actions included installing cameras at crackdown sites, closing 20 locations (457 cameras), and 521 locations voluntarily shut down. Eighty-five money laundering cases were also investigated. Source: CEN Cambodia