Cambodia Vows to Eliminate Online Scam Syndicates by Khmer New Year

Cambodia has vowed to eliminate all online scam syndicates operating within its borders before the Khmer New Year in April, signalling an intensified nationwide crackdown on cybercrime that authorities say will leave no network untouched.

The pledge was reaffirmed during a high-level government meeting this week chaired by Interior Minister Sar Sokha, where officials reviewed the progress of the country’s campaign against technology-based fraud. The meeting underscored a “take-no-prisoners” approach as Cambodia seeks to dismantle modern criminal networks that have flourished in recent years.

Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Permanent Vice-Chair of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), said enforcement operations are being expanded across all provinces to meet the government’s deadline.

“The nationwide crackdown is already underway and will continue to grow in scale,” Bun Eng said in an interview. “Our objective is clear: to eradicate all forms of online scam operations before the Khmer New Year holiday.”

She said authorities at every level have been instructed to intensify their efforts, with provincial administrations now required to regularly report on suspected cybercrime activity in their jurisdictions.

“This problem has harmed Cambodia’s reputation for years,” Bun Eng said. “That is why every province now bears responsibility. There must not be a single syndicate left.”

Learning from Past Failures

Cambodian officials say recent operations are benefiting from lessons learned during earlier enforcement attempts, when fragmented investigations allowed criminal groups to evade capture by relocating from one site to another.

“In the past, we investigated cases one by one, and offenders often escaped before we could dismantle the entire operation,” Bun Eng said. “Now, we are targeting networks as a whole.”

She said improvements in intelligence-gathering, digital tracing, and coordination between agencies have significantly increased the effectiveness of law-enforcement actions.

“We now have the experience, manpower, and resources necessary for a large-scale national operation,” she said.

Growing International Cooperation

The renewed domestic push has been matched by closer cooperation with foreign governments and international partners, particularly in information-sharing and victim support.

According to Bun Eng, improved reporting mechanisms have encouraged other countries to step up deportations of suspected scammers and assist their nationals who have been victimised by fraud schemes operating from Cambodia.

“As cooperation improves, we are seeing stronger responses from our partners,” she said. “Those still trying to evade the authorities will not remain at large for long.”

She urged Cambodian citizens to support the effort by reporting suspicious activities in their communities, assuring the public that every report would be carefully investigated.

“Only by working together can we succeed in protecting our country and the wider region,” she said.

A Persistent and Evolving Threat

Online scams in Cambodia have expanded rapidly in recent years, encompassing investment fraud, romance scams, phishing schemes, fake job offers, and cryptocurrency-related crimes. Many operations rely on social media platforms, messaging apps, and online marketplaces to target victims both domestically and abroad.

While the government has dismissed some international reports as exaggerated, it has openly acknowledged the seriousness of the problem and moved to strengthen enforcement.

Prime Minister Hun Manet chairs the Commission for Combatting Online Scams (CCOS), a high-level task force established last year to coordinate national efforts against cyber fraud. Operating with its own budget and under the authority of the Council of Ministers, the commission is tasked with prevention, suppression, and enforcement, as well as monitoring the performance of ministries and law-enforcement agencies.

The commission also works closely with international partners to address the transnational nature of online crime.

Arrests and High-Profile Cases

Since the CCOS was formed, Cambodian authorities report a series of significant enforcement successes. In the second half of 2025 alone, police carried out raids at 118 suspected scam locations nationwide, arresting nearly 5,000 suspects from 23 different nationalities.

The crackdown has continued into 2026, marked by further raids across multiple provinces and the arrest and deportation of Chen Zhi, founder of the Prince Group and an alleged key figure in online scam operations.

One of the most notable recent operations took place at the end of January in Bavet City, Svay Rieng province, where authorities arrested more than 2,000 foreign nationals in a single day.

Political Commitment and Public Appeal

In mid-January, Prime Minister Hun Manet issued a public appeal for national unity, describing online scam networks as a serious transnational crime threatening Cambodia’s social security, international standing, and regional stability.

“The continuous implementation of strict and decisive measures demonstrates the government’s political commitment to combating this shared global threat,” he said, calling on citizens, civil servants, and local authorities to unite in eliminating cybercrime.

Analysts have welcomed the government’s stance. Chheng Kimlong, President of the Asian Vision Institute, praised what he described as a strong and necessary response.

“This is not only about Cambodia’s reputation,” he said. “It is also a matter of national security.”

Kimlong urged other countries to support Cambodia’s efforts, noting that online scams transcend borders.

“By helping Cambodia, other nations are also protecting their own citizens,” he said. “Cybercrime recognises no boundaries.”