Cambodia Hosts International Conference on Combating Online Scams, Addresses Border Disputes

Cambodia is clearly demonstrating its commitment to confronting online scams in collaboration with the international community. The nation is set to host the "International Conference on Combating Online Scams" in the capital, Phnom Penh, from September 23rd to 24th. This conference aims to showcase Cambodia's transition from being a victim of online fraud to a model for tackling the issue, sharing its experiences with the global community. Minister of Information, Net Pheaktra, emphasized that Cambodia has nothing to hide regarding online scams and derives no benefit from them. He stated, "This event is intended to show the world that Cambodia is a victim of online fraud, and through the government's efforts, it is necessary to crack down on scam syndicates and restore its reputation." The minister expressed his pleasure in Cambodia hosting this international conference. Minister Pheaktra acknowledged that online scams are a common regional and global challenge, and Cambodia itself is a victim of these cross-border crimes. However, he noted that Cambodia is facing the issue and implementing measures to address it. A significant point raised was the Minister's reference to border issues with Thailand. Minister Pheaktra strongly protested against Thailand's activities in border areas, which he claims are using scam crackdowns as a pretext to bring military attachés and domestic and international journalists to the site. He accused Thailand of illegally occupying Cambodian territory and attempting to apply Thai law within Cambodia. He further pointed out that Thailand is using the guise of scam crackdowns to conceal its alleged territorial incursions, and the Cambodian government has strongly protested through diplomatic channels. While recognizing online scams as a serious challenge, Cambodia emphasized that it is taking steps to effectively address this issue by closely cooperating with various countries worldwide, including China, the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and ASEAN nations. Source: CEN Cambodia