The two-day International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS 2026) concluded on September 24 under the theme “Acting Together Towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams.”
At the closing ceremony, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Vice Chairman of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS) Neth Savoeun stressed that no country can address technology-based scams alone.
The conference brought together governments, law enforcement agencies, international organisations, financial institutions, technology and telecommunications companies, academia and other stakeholders.
According to AKP, representatives from 28 countries and seven international organisations adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration, which sets out 11 commitments for strengthening international cooperation against online scams and related transnational crimes.
Phnom Penh Declaration sets 11 commitments
The newly adopted declaration calls for coordinated action at national, regional and international levels.
Its 11 commitments include:
- Strengthening international cooperation
- Breaking the criminal chain
- Disrupting and recovering criminal proceeds
- Leveraging technological innovation
- Strengthening policy, legal and regulatory frameworks
- Building capacity and resilience
- Deepening public private partnerships
- Protecting trafficked victims and vulnerable people
- Applying the non-punishment principle to victims
- Preventing fraud and human trafficking
- Dismantling online scam compounds and related infrastructure
The declaration also highlights intelligence sharing, financial investigations, mutual legal assistance, capacity building and stronger cross-border law enforcement cooperation.
Neth Savoeun calls for action beyond the conference
In his closing remarks, Neth Savoeun said the main lesson from the conference was that technology-based scams cannot be successfully addressed by individual countries acting alone.
He emphasised the need for international cooperation at all levels, saying participating delegations had shared experiences concerning emerging challenges, cybersecurity resilience, financial investigations and other areas relevant to combating online scams.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said technological development has improved people's lives but has simultaneously provided criminals with additional tools to cause harm to society, economies and national security.
He called on participating countries and organisations to translate the conference discussions into concrete action, strengthen law enforcement cooperation and make greater use of international cooperation mechanisms.
Scam networks becoming more sophisticated
According to Path Kosal, a member of the ICCOS 2026 Organising Committee, online scams have evolved into sophisticated and organised criminal operations.
Criminal networks increasingly operate across borders while exploiting differences in domestic laws and weaknesses in digital platforms.
The rapid development of technologies including artificial intelligence, synthetic voices and automated messaging is adding further challenges for authorities attempting to identify and disrupt scam operations.
The conference also noted links between online scams and other forms of organised crime, including human trafficking, money laundering and illicit financial flows.
This led participants to emphasise that online scams should not be viewed solely as a cybersecurity issue. Instead, they described them as a broader transnational crime and governance challenge requiring coordinated action across government and society.
Financial investigations and asset recovery highlighted
The conference called for stronger institutional and law enforcement capacity, alongside faster sharing of intelligence and evidence.
It also highlighted:
- Coordinated cross-border investigations
- Digital forensics
- Financial transaction monitoring
- Asset tracing and recovery
- Intelligence sharing
- Mutual legal assistance
- Greater cooperation with technology companies
- Greater cooperation with telecommunications operators
- Victim protection
Financial investigations were particularly important because following the movement of criminal proceeds can help authorities identify networks and potentially recover assets connected to scam operations.
The Phnom Penh Declaration specifically includes disrupting and recovering criminal proceeds among its 11 commitments.
Victims of trafficking require protection
Another significant element of the conference was the recognition that people found working inside scam operations may themselves have been victims of human trafficking and forced criminality.
The declaration therefore includes commitments to protect trafficked victims and vulnerable people and to apply the non-punishment principle for victims.
This reflects an approach that distinguishes between individuals who organise or control criminal networks and people who may have been trafficked or coerced into participating in scam activities.
The declaration also links online scam prevention with efforts to prevent human trafficking.
Countries urged to maintain cooperation after ICCOS
Neth Savoeun said the conclusion of the conference should not mark the end of cooperation.
As host, Cambodia said it would continue seeking additional endorsements for the Phnom Penh Declaration from governments and international organisations.
He thanked the organising commission, INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (UNODC ROSEAP) and the Lancang Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement Cooperation Centre (LMLECC) for their roles in the conference.
He described the conclusion of the formal session as the beginning of a broader effort to turn the commitments made during the conference into practical cooperation.
Cambodia reports expanded enforcement efforts
The conference also came as Cambodia continues its own crackdown against online scam operations.
According to figures reported by Cambodian authorities at the conference, officials had conducted site inspections and crackdown operations at 832 online scam locations over the past year.
Authorities also reported referring 446 case files involving 3,927 suspects to court and deporting 22,142 foreign nationals from 38 nationalities.
These figures are government reported enforcement statistics and describe actions taken by Cambodian authorities; they should not be interpreted as an independent measurement of the overall scale of online scam activity.
From national enforcement to international coordination
The conference reflects a shift in emphasis from individual operations toward disrupting entire criminal networks.
Online scam networks can involve recruiters, traffickers, operators, financial facilitators, technology infrastructure and money laundering channels across multiple jurisdictions.
The Phnom Penh Declaration therefore places international cooperation, financial investigations, intelligence sharing, victim protection and cross-border enforcement alongside domestic legal and institutional measures.
The declaration also recognises that criminal groups are adapting by dispersing operations into smaller and decentralised cells and using emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Angkor Times Analysis
The most significant outcome of ICCOS 2026 is the move from a conference discussion toward a formal 11 point cooperation framework.
The Phnom Penh Declaration does not represent a single enforcement operation. Instead, it establishes a broad set of commitments covering law enforcement, financial investigations, technology, legislation, victim protection and public private cooperation.
That breadth reflects the changing nature of online scams. A scam network can cross several jurisdictions and involve activities that fall under different legal and regulatory systems. This makes international coordination important for investigations that cannot be completed within one country's borders.
The inclusion of financial asset tracing and recovery is particularly important because disrupting the movement of criminal proceeds can target the economic infrastructure supporting scam networks.
The inclusion of victim protection and the non-punishment principle is another important element. It recognises that not everyone found inside a scam operation necessarily has the same role or degree of responsibility.
The conference's next challenge is implementation.
The declaration establishes commitments, but its practical impact will depend on how participating countries translate those commitments into information sharing, coordinated investigations, mutual legal assistance, financial intelligence cooperation, victim protection and action against the infrastructure supporting criminal networks.
Neth Savoeun's call to turn conference discussions into concrete action therefore points to the key issue following ICCOS 2026: how international commitments will be converted into sustained operational cooperation.
Key Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Conference | International Conference on Combating Online Scams, ICCOS 2026 |
| Location | Phnom Penh |
| Dates | September 23-24, 2026 |
| Theme | “Acting Together Towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams” |
| Declaration | Phnom Penh Declaration |
| Participating countries | 28 |
| International organisations | 7 |
| Key commitments | 11 |
| Main focus | International cooperation against online scams and related transnational crime |
| Cambodian closing speaker | Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun |
| Scam locations reported targeted | 832 |
| Case files reportedly sent to court | 446 |
| Suspects involved in those cases | 3,927 |
| Foreign nationals reportedly deported | 22,142 |
| Nationalities represented among deportees | 38 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Phnom Penh Declaration?
The Phnom Penh Declaration is an international framework adopted at ICCOS 2026 that sets out 11 commitments aimed at strengthening cooperation against online scams and related transnational criminal activities.
How many countries adopted the declaration?
AKP reported that delegates from 28 countries and seven international organisations adopted the declaration.
What are the main priorities of the declaration?
Its commitments cover international cooperation, disruption of criminal networks and proceeds, technology, legal frameworks, capacity building, public private partnerships, victim protection, prevention of fraud and trafficking, and dismantling scam compounds and related infrastructure.
Why is international cooperation important?
Scam networks increasingly operate across borders and can exploit differences between national legal systems and digital platforms. International cooperation can support intelligence sharing, coordinated investigations and mutual legal assistance.
Does the declaration focus only on cybersecurity?
No. The conference characterised online scams as a broader transnational crime and governance challenge involving law enforcement, financial systems, technology, human trafficking and victim protection.
What role does artificial intelligence play?
The conference noted that AI, synthetic voices, automated messaging and other emerging technologies are making scam operations more difficult to detect and disrupt.
Does the declaration address scam victims?
Yes. It includes commitments to protect trafficked victims and vulnerable people and to apply the non-punishment principle for victims.
What happens after ICCOS 2026?
Neth Savoeun said Cambodia would continue seeking additional endorsements for the Phnom Penh Declaration and called on participants to turn the conference's commitments into concrete action.