Cambodia Enhances International Cooperation Against Cyber Fraud

Cambodia is intensifying its international cooperation with partner countries and international organizations to combat cyber fraud, focusing on information exchange, investigation, and digital evidence analysis. This effort aims to ensure that criminal groups cannot exploit jurisdictional differences to evade legal responsibility for their actions. This was stated by H.E. Keo Vannthann, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior, during the first forum of the International Conference on Combating Technology-Based Fraud, held on the afternoon of September 23, 2026. The senior official highlighted that the international community has also established additional legal frameworks to strengthen cooperation in combating technology-based fraud. In 2024, the United Nations introduced a convention against cybercrime, supplementing the 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. This new legal instrument has created a significant new framework for international cooperation in fighting transnational cyber fraud. Cambodia, as a signatory to this convention, has taken a step forward by establishing its legal framework for combating technology-based fraud, which was announced and put into effect in April 2026. This new law fills the gaps in previous legislation and enhances the effectiveness of cooperation with other countries, as well as the effectiveness of combating money laundering associated with technology-based fraud. When technology-based fraud occurs, other criminal activities such as human trafficking, forced labor, drug trafficking, and money laundering often emerge at the scene, creating a complex ecosystem of transnational crime. Criminals are well aware of the loopholes in laws and jurisdictions and exploit these weaknesses. Currently, fraudsters can operate in one country, defraud victims in another, use digital infrastructure in a third country, recruit or traffic labor in a fourth country, and transfer proceeds of crime to multiple other nations, making it impossible for a single country's operations to dismantle the entire criminal network. In response to the rapid evolution of technology-based fraud, many countries and international organizations have been continuously introducing legal frameworks and cooperation mechanisms. The regional and global response has also evolved in tandem with these criminal activities. H.E. Keo Vannthann emphasized that initial responses focused on protecting victims through awareness campaigns and other preventive measures. However, these measures were insufficient to curb the growth of cyber fraud. Consequently, the focus has shifted from protecting individual citizens to taking joint action to dismantle these criminal networks, which is essential for ensuring security and safety for the people and society. The Undersecretary of State added that based on these global, regional, and Cambodian developments, it is clear that "no single country or institution can effectively resolve the issue of technology-based fraud alone." Therefore, the gathering, which brings together all relevant stakeholders including state institutions, international organizations, and the private sector, especially the speakers for this first forum, comprising senior officials and technical experts from various countries and regional organizations, will provide crucial input for setting priority directions in effectively combating technology-based fraud. By Thea Chansothary © All rights reserved by National News Agency of Cambodia 2018