Cambodia Vows to Crack Down on Online Scams, Vows International Cooperation

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet declared on September 23 at an international conference that "Cambodia will never be a safe haven for online scam operations." The event was attended by delegates from over a dozen countries, including the United States and China, with the Cambodian government aiming to showcase its efforts to crack down on the multi-billion dollar online scam industry. The Prime Minister affirmed the country's support for enhanced international cooperation, including real-time intelligence sharing, and authorities stated they have dismantled industrial-scale scam compounds. However, some analysts express skepticism, suggesting that the raids have not touched the high-profile figures behind these networks. Delphine Schantz, UNODC's regional representative, noted the conference showed "increasing openness in cooperation" but stressed that "there is still much more to be done, both at the national level and in international cooperation," calling for a common understanding of new trends and unified legal frameworks, including investment in digital evidence gathering. In recent years, Cambodia, along with other Southeast Asian nations like Myanmar, has become a hub for transnational online scam operations. These compounds are run by criminal groups, primarily Chinese-led, and employ both willing workers and victims of human trafficking forced into scams such as online romance fraud and impersonation schemes. Journalists from local and international media were taken on tours of large-scale government-shut facilities and shown seized items, including fake FBI and Chinese police badges. According to Cambodia's Ministry of Interior, Cambodian and US authorities have dismantled 50 online scam locations across seven provinces and are jointly investigating 12 criminal cases. The FBI provided intelligence on 50 illegal online scam sites operating in Cambodian provinces, which the Ministry of Interior used to dismantle all 50 facilities. These joint law enforcement operations followed a visit to Cambodia by the FBI Director in late July. The US Embassy lauded Cambodia's anti-scam efforts, calling the bilateral operational cooperation a model for international collaboration against transnational cybercrime. In the US alone, over $10 billion is estimated to have been lost to Southeast Asia-originating scams in 2024. Under pressure from the US and other countries, Cambodia has reported raiding hundreds of compounds and deporting tens of thousands of foreigners over the past year. In the last three years, 72,426 foreign nationals have been deported for illegal residency, including approximately 5,000 Vietnamese nationals deported in connection with online scams. However, analysts and some opposition figures argue that the crackdowns have not targeted politically connected individuals accused of protecting scam networks. Criminal organizations have adapted by breaking down operations into smaller units and relocating some activities abroad. Mu Sochua, an opposition politician living in exile, stated that the credibility of the crackdown will depend on the Cambodian state's willingness to investigate all credible allegations, regardless of the wealth, influence, or public office of those involved. Notably, Hun To, a cousin of Prime Minister Hun Manet, stated in May that he owned a 30% stake in Huione Pay, a payment platform linked to scam and money laundering activities that has faced US sanctions. Source: BBC Vietnamese