Cambodia Shares Online Scams Fight Experience as Strategic Framework for International Partners

Prime Minister Hun Manet stated on September 23, 2026, that Cambodia's experience in combating online scams provides crucial lessons and is shaping the nation's strategic framework, while also offering valuable insights to international partners. Addressing an international conference on combating technological scams, the Prime Minister shared four key lessons learned: First, the paramount importance of elevating the threat of combating technological scams to the highest national security priority. The establishment of a central body, such as the National Committee for Combating Technological Scams, is crucial for synchronizing information sharing, financial intelligence, law enforcement, and sub-national administration across all pillars of the state. Second, strategic crackdowns must be reinforced by laws targeting the entire criminal network. Modern anti-online scam laws need to define clear criminal responsibilities not only for frontline operators but also for masterminds, investors, recruiters, property owners, and facilitators. Third, authorities must rapidly adapt to the evolving tactics of criminal groups. When a location is disrupted, criminal groups break into smaller units, hiding in different places and utilizing new technologies. In response, law enforcement strategies must pivot towards strict immigration controls, continuous digital intelligence gathering, and on-site inspections. Fourth, law enforcement institutions must strictly adhere to ethical codes. Most cross-border scam operations rely on human trafficking, fraudulent recruitment, and coercion into committing crimes. It is imperative to ensure that victims trafficked and forced into committing scams are identified, protected, differentiated from willing perpetrators, provided with humanitarian assistance, and safely repatriated to their countries of origin. Prime Minister Manet concluded by noting that criminal groups are driven by immense financial incentives and supported by the most advanced technologies. In response, international solidarity must be stronger, supported by modern, effective, and genuinely collaborative law enforcement mechanisms. Source: CPP Cambodia