Cambodia, South Korea Intensify Joint Crackdown on Online Scams, Detain 179 Korean Nationals

PHNOM PENH, Sept 24, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodian and South Korean police have intensified cooperation against transnational online scams, with joint operations dismantling 15 cases and detaining 179 South Korean nationals, including 11 women, officials said Thursday. Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak said the operations were carried out through information exchange between Cambodia’s General Commissariat of National Police and the Korean National Police Agency. The cases involved suspected scam networks in Phnom Penh, Preah Sihanouk, Mondulkiri, Banteay Meanchey and Battambang provinces. Authorities identified multiple methods used to defraud victims, particularly South Korean nationals. These included phishing via email, SMS and social media to obtain confidential data, fake investment schemes promising high returns, romance scams, fraudulent e‑commerce transactions, fake job offers requiring advance payments, and lottery or prize scams. Scammers also engaged in identity theft, impersonating officials, police, bank staff or relatives to trick victims into transferring money. Sokhak said Cambodia’s cooperation had been praised by the South Korean Embassy and lawmakers, describing the crackdown as responsible and transparent. He noted the results had contributed to South Korea easing travel advisories that previously warned citizens about scam risks in Cambodia. He stressed that online scams are a global crime requiring international cooperation, as networks continuously adopt new technologies and sophisticated methods. Joint efforts, he added, are intended to protect citizens of all nationalities, not to target any particular group.