Cambodia Warns Against Misuse of Scam Fight at International Conference

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 23, 2026 (KPT) — Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet on Wednesday warned that the fight against online scams must not be misused as a pretext for aggression against another country or the illegal occupation of sovereign territory, as Cambodia opened a global conference on the issue. “Online scams must not be used as an excuse for aggression against another nation or for illegally occupying another country’s sovereign territory,” Samdech Thipadei said at the launch of the International Conference on Combating Online Scams in Phnom Penh. He stressed that efforts to tackle the crime must respect national sovereignty and international law. The prime minister said using the campaign against scams to justify violations of sovereignty would amount to an abuse of international law rather than a genuine effort to combat criminal networks. He urged countries to work together “in good faith and sincerity” to confront the growing problem. “There is no single nation that can tackle it alone,” Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said, calling for collective security to be placed ahead of individual interests. The two‑day meeting, held under the theme “Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams,” has brought together governments, law‑enforcement agencies, financial institutions, technology companies and international organisations. Cambodia has stepped up operations against scam compounds and established mechanisms to address the crime nationwide. Officials said discussions will focus on international cooperation, law enforcement, victim protection and measures to disrupt transnational networks. Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to working with partners to dismantle criminal groups, saying only coordinated efforts could prevent and eliminate the networks behind online scams.