Cambodia Hosts International Conference on Combating Cyber Scams, Pledges Global Cooperation

PHNOM PENH, September 23, 2026 -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sar Sokha, stated that criminal activities related to scams have evolved from traditional human-to-human methods to sophisticated technological approaches, enabling criminals to target any destination globally within minutes. His remarks were made during the opening of the International Conference on Combating Cyber Scams, held in Phnom Penh on the morning of September 23, 2026, under the theme: 'Together Towards Severing the Chain and Ending Cyber Scams.' Cambodia hosted this international conference. Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha noted a significant increase in cyber scam offenses in recent times compared to other criminal activities. He attributed this rise to several factors: 1. The ease of committing offenses through the internet and electronic devices. 2. Loopholes in legal frameworks between different countries. 3. Low capital investment yielding high returns. 4. The shift in people's lifestyles and commercial transactions from face-to-face interactions to digital communication and cryptocurrency. According to UNODC data, in 2023, victims in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and other regions lost between $88.3 billion and $119.1 billion. Furthermore, a report by INTERPOL revealed that global losses due to cyber scams amount to $442 billion. Beyond financial losses, these crimes also contribute to the rise of other offenses such as human trafficking, forced labor, and money laundering, forming an "ecosystem of crime." This creates two types of victims: those who lose their assets and those who are trafficked, exploited, or forced into scam operations. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that due to the rapid evolution and complexity of these events, no single country can resolve this issue alone. It requires urgent international cooperation and joint action to prevent and completely eliminate these networks, aligning with the conference theme. In response to these threats, Cambodia has launched a campaign to combat cyber scams, making it a priority agenda for the government. Mechanisms have been put in place, including the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to fight cyber scams and the issuance of relevant legal frameworks and normative documents to address these offenses. Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha also affirmed that the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia is studying the feasibility of establishing a National Center for Combating Cyber Scams to enhance the efficiency and timeliness of addressing such cases. The implementation of legal frameworks and mechanisms aims to support the firm political commitment of the Prime Minister to cleanse Cambodian territory of cyber scams and prevent their recurrence. By: Chan Sophon © 2018 National News Agency of Cambodia