Cambodia and South Korea Cooperate to Bust Online Scams, Detaining Nearly 200 South Koreans

Cooperation between the Cambodian National Police and the Korean National Police Agency has yielded significant results in preventing, suppressing, and combating transnational crimes, including online scams. Through recent information exchange with the Korean side, Cambodian authorities have apprehended 179 South Korean nationals, including 11 women, involved in online scam offenses. This was announced by Mr. Touch Sokhak, Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, on September 24, 2026. Mr. Sokhak further stated that these individuals were arrested during operations targeting 15 online scam locations. These operations took place in Phnom Penh (8 cases), Sihanoukville (4 cases), Mondulkiri (1 case), Banteay Meanchey (1 case), and Battambang (1 case). The scam groups employed various methods to lure and defraud foreigners, particularly South Koreans. Authorities have investigated and identified tactics such as sending phishing messages via email, SMS, or social media, impersonating banks or companies to obtain confidential information like passwords, bank card numbers, or codes. In addition to phishing, other fraudulent activities included investment scams promising high short-term returns, romance scams exploiting online relationships, e-commerce scams involving fake goods, fake job recruitment schemes requiring upfront registration fees, and lottery scams. Perpetrators also impersonated government officials, police officers, bank employees, or relatives to trick victims into transferring money or divulging sensitive information. The Deputy Spokesperson affirmed the success of these operations against South Korean nationals involved in online scams, noting the high praise and appreciation received from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Cambodia, South Korean leadership, and parliamentarians. This recognition highlights Cambodia's sincerity and responsibility in collaborative efforts with the Republic of Korea. The spokesperson emphasized that these successful crackdowns have led the Korean side to withdraw or reduce prior advisories warning its citizens against traveling to Cambodia or urging extreme caution due to online scam risks. These cautionary measures have now been eased. He added that such cooperation will continue, as online scams are global offenses utilizing evolving tricks and advanced technology. Collaborating in this manner is essential to help citizens of all nationalities, not targeting any specific group. Mr. Touch Sokhak further explained that online scams are global crimes due to the perpetrators' use of cunning tactics and continuously advancing technology. Joint efforts are crucial to rescue citizens of all nationalities with sincerity and without discrimination. He stressed that the issue of online scams should not be used as a pretext or political tool to impose conditions, attack, or persecute any state for selfish gains, as such actions deviate from the genuine intention of jointly eradicating crime and saving people. Source: Koh Santepheap Khmer