Cambodia Busts 832 Cyber-Scam Sites, Freezes Over $300M in One Year

Cambodian authorities have revealed that over the past year, they have busted 832 locations involved in cyber-scams and frozen more than $300 million in bank accounts. At the closing ceremony of the International Conference on Combating Cyber-Scams (ICCOS-2026), held in Phnom Penh on September 24, 2026, Prime Minister Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to apprehending criminals, dismantling cyber-scam networks, and freezing illicit assets. He underscored the importance of international cooperation in information sharing, investigation, financial assistance, legal aid, capacity building, public-private partnerships, victim protection, and public awareness. The conference noted with satisfaction Cambodia's commitment and tangible results in combating cyber-scams. Over the past year, authorities investigated and busted 832 cyber-scam locations, referring 446 cases to the judiciary. To date, 3,927 suspects have been detained, and 22,142 foreign nationals from 38 nationalities have been deported. During the conference, it was also observed that criminal networks continue to adapt by fragmenting into smaller groups and exploiting new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). The Cambodian government firmly believes that crackdowns alone are insufficient and that continuous efforts are necessary to sever the operational channels of these criminal networks. Representatives from participating countries and various international organizations shared national experiences and best practices regarding technology-enabled scams, financial investigations, accounts used by criminal networks, technological offenses, support services, victim-centered protection, and robust cross-border law enforcement cooperation, in accordance with national laws and relevant international legal instruments, based on the principles of mutual respect and respect for national sovereignty. Key achievements of this national campaign from July 2025 to August 31, 2026, include: investigating 832 suspected locations, closing 663 sites, and cracking down on and managing 86 scam compounds for legal confiscation. Twenty-seven casino licenses linked to online scams were revoked and frozen to cut off financial flows. Forty-six cases involving 3,927 defendants of 29 nationalities have been sent to the judiciary. Cambodia has reiterated its commitment to working with international partners to transform these commitments into sustainable and effective measures for victim protection and the prevention of scam networks from re-emerging, treating law enforcement as a humanitarian mission. Cambodian authorities have rescued and repatriated over 22,000 foreign nationals (from 38 nationalities) who were victims of forced labor. Authorities have frozen over $300 million in bank accounts and are continuing to freeze and assess other related assets.