Cambodia Warns of Impersonation Scams Targeting Bank Customers

Cambodia is experiencing a surge in fraud cases where individuals impersonate bank employees, prompting a strong warning from the Cybercrime Department. The perpetrators contact victims by phone, falsely claiming to be bank staff and stating that their bank accounts have been compromised. These fraudsters then inform victims that their accounts require repair and that funds must be transferred to a different account temporarily. They promise to return the money after the account is fixed, often on the same day. To facilitate this, they often pressure victims to connect via messaging applications like Telegram for easier communication. Subsequently, the scammers instruct victims to transfer money to the fraudsters' bank accounts using QR codes or other methods. However, after the transfer, the promised funds are never returned, leaving victims with significant financial losses. The Cybercrime Department urges the public to exercise extreme caution and thorough consideration before making any money transfers. They emphasize that if a bank account is suspected to have issues, individuals should directly contact their bank for verification and resolution, rather than relying on unsolicited calls or messages. This direct approach is crucial to avoid falling victim to such scams.