Cambodia and India Deepen Cooperation on Online Scam Crackdown Ahead of International Conference

Cambodia and India have agreed to deepen cooperation in combating transnational online scam networks through greater intelligence sharing, technical exchanges, and capacity building. This commitment comes as Phnom Penh prepares to host an international conference aimed at strengthening regional efforts against cyber-enabled fraud. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, head of the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Technology-enabled Scams (CCTC), met with Indian ambassador to Cambodia Vanlalvawna Bawitlung on July 22. The discussions reflected Cambodia’s continued efforts to strengthen international partnerships in tackling cybercrime, which has become an increasingly complex cross-border challenge requiring close cooperation between governments and law enforcement agencies. According to the Secretariat, Sinarith expressed his appreciation for the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and India, while emphasizing the importance of expanding practical collaboration in combating technology-enabled fraud. He highlighted the need for closer exchanges of information and professional training between India’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and Cambodia’s anti-online scam commission to enhance the capabilities of investigators and enforcement officials. “The timely exchange of information and the strengthening of technical capacity are essential to improving the effectiveness of efforts to suppress online scam operations,” he said. He also briefed the ambassador on Cambodia’s preparations to host the International Conference on Combating Online Scams, scheduled for September 23-24 in Phnom Penh. The conference is expected to bring together government officials, law enforcement agencies, cybercrime specialists, and international partners to discuss emerging threats, strengthen regional cooperation, and exchange best practices in tackling online fraud. Chhay invited India to support the event and send representatives to share the country’s experience and expertise in combating cyber-enabled crime. India has developed one of the region’s most extensive institutional frameworks for addressing cybercrime through I4C, which coordinates investigations, intelligence sharing, digital forensic support, and capacity building among Indian law enforcement agencies. The ambassador expressed appreciation for the close cooperation between Cambodia and India and reaffirmed New Delhi’s support for strengthening joint efforts against online scam networks. He noted Cambodia’s active measures and firm policies to combat cyber-enabled fraud, saying the Royal Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting victims and addressing the growing threat posed by transnational criminal organisations. Bawitlung expressed India’s full support for the upcoming conference, describing it as an important platform for promoting international cooperation against online scams. According to the CCTC Secretariat, the ambassador also commended the Cambodian government’s continued attention to ensuring the safety and welfare of victims who have been exploited by online scam syndicates. Both sides exchanged views on expanding future cooperation, particularly through faster information sharing, closer operational coordination, and specialized training programs for investigators responsible for combating online fraud. The meeting comes as Cambodia continues to intensify its campaign against online scam operations and seeks broader international cooperation to dismantle criminal networks that often operate across multiple jurisdictions. Authorities have repeatedly stressed that transnational cybercrime cannot be addressed by individual countries acting alone and requires coordinated legal, technical, and intelligence cooperation among affected states. By hosting the September conference, Cambodia aims to strengthen regional dialogue and foster more effective partnerships to combat online scams, while positioning itself as an active contributor to international efforts against cyber-enabled organized crime. The planned gathering is expected to provide participating countries with an opportunity to share operational experience, discuss new technological challenges, and identify practical mechanisms for enhancing cross-border cooperation against increasingly sophisticated online scam syndicates.