Cambodia is preparing to adopt the Phnom Penh Declaration on Combating Online Scams on September 24, as an international conference in Phnom Penh brings together governments, law enforcement agencies, international organisations and media representatives to strengthen cooperation against transnational online fraud.
The two day International Conference on Combating Online Scams, being held on September 23–24 under the theme “Acting Together Towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams,” has attracted delegates from 27 countries and seven international organisations, according to the Cambodian government. The conference has also drawn 347 national and international journalists from 69 local and foreign media organisations.
The declaration is expected to establish a framework for stronger international cooperation on online scams, including information sharing, capacity building, prevention, law enforcement, victim protection and coordinated responses.
Phnom Penh Declaration to Set Out Joint Commitments
H.E. Chhay Sinarith, Senior Minister in charge of Special Missions and Head of the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), said the joint declaration will outline participating countries’ commitment to combating online scams.
The framework is expected to cover several areas:
- International cooperation
- Information sharing
- Capacity building
- Prevention
- Law enforcement
- Victim protection
- Coordinated responses to online scam crimes
The declaration is scheduled to be adopted on September 24, the final day of the conference.
Prime Minister Hun Manet called on participants to engage in candid and constructive discussions and expressed hope that the declaration would serve as evidence of a collective commitment to disrupting and eradicating online scams.
Hun Manet: Cambodia Will Not Be a Safe Haven for Online Scams
Opening the conference on September 23, Hun Manet declared that Cambodia will not become a safe haven for online scam operations.
The Prime Minister said combating transnational cybercrime requires strong leadership, effective governance and efforts to address systemic vulnerabilities and complex cross-border criminal networks.
He also said online scam operations did not originate in Cambodia and are not limited to the country, while linking Cambodia’s early exposure to the problem to the growth of online gambling and casino-related businesses.
According to the Prime Minister, criminal networks have evolved across borders by exploiting commercial properties, regulatory gaps and complex telecommunications networks to establish transnational scam ecosystems.
Hun Manet said Cambodia has adopted a “zero tolerance, no exceptions, and no retreat” policy toward online scams and treats enforcement as a continuing national security responsibility.
He said the government’s objectives include dismantling criminal networks, preventing their re-emergence and restoring confidence in Cambodia’s economy, investment environment, tourism sector and public safety.
Government Says Large Scale Scam Compounds Have Been Dismantled
Hun Manet stated that “scam compounds no longer exist within the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia.”
The government’s claim refers to large-scale scam compounds. Cambodian authorities have separately warned that criminal networks could adapt by fragmenting into smaller and more decentralised operations.
That distinction is important because the reported enforcement figures concern suspected locations and major compounds, while the Prime Minister also warned about the potential evolution of scam networks into smaller operations.
According to CCOS figures covering July 2025 through August 31, 2026, authorities have:
| Enforcement indicator | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Bank funds frozen | More than US$300 million |
| Cases sent to court | 446 |
| Suspects in those cases | 3,927 |
| Suspected locations inspected | 832 |
| Locations where crackdown operations were launched | 663 |
| Major scam compounds taken under control | 86 |
| Cases involving officials | 4 |
| Officials involved in those cases | 15 |
The figures were reported by Cambodian authorities and are therefore best understood as government-reported enforcement statistics.
Officials Also Targeted for Alleged Involvement
The government says enforcement has also extended to officials accused of involvement in online scam activities.
Four cases involving 15 suspects have been handled, according to CCOS.
The reported cases involve personnel including a deputy prosecutor, a deputy director-general of immigration, a deputy Phnom Penh municipal police commissioner, a former director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as police and military officials.
The inclusion of government officials in the reported enforcement actions indicates that the crackdown is also being presented by authorities as an internal accountability effort.
International Partners Call for Cooperation
International organisations participating in the conference have emphasised the need for cross-border cooperation.
Nicholas Court, Director of Taskforce Coordination Directorate at INTERPOL, welcomed the Phnom Penh Declaration and its recognition of the importance of international cooperation in combating fraud.
Delphine Schantz, Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said UNODC supports Cambodia’s initiative and called for clear, actionable measures at national, regional and global levels.
She said the conference should be used not only to assess progress and challenges but also to establish practical steps for more effective responses.
China Highlights Cambodia Cooperation
Yang Weilin, Vice Minister of Public Security of China, said Cambodia has increased efforts against telecommunications and cyber fraud through legislation, law enforcement, anti-corruption measures and international cooperation.
He said Cambodia had carried out special campaigns against fraud, taken action against criminal syndicates, dismantled large-scale casino-fraud compounds and arrested and repatriated tens of thousands of fraud-related suspects.
These statements represent the Chinese government's assessment of Cambodia's enforcement efforts.
Cambodia Seeks Broader International Action
The Phnom Penh conference places Cambodia’s domestic crackdown within a broader international effort against online scams.
Because scam networks can operate across multiple jurisdictions, authorities and international organisations have increasingly focused on information sharing, coordinated investigations, financial tracing, victim protection and cross-border law enforcement.
The proposed Phnom Penh Declaration is intended to provide a common framework for these areas.
The conference therefore represents not only a Cambodian enforcement initiative but also an effort to establish a broader basis for cooperation among participating countries and international organisations.
The Challenge Is Moving Beyond Physical Compounds
One of the central challenges highlighted by the Cambodian government is the possibility that criminal groups could change their operating methods after large-scale compounds are dismantled.
Hun Manet warned that organised criminal networks may fragment into smaller and decentralised operations targeting Cambodian citizens.
This means that the removal of large physical scam compounds does not necessarily address every form of online fraud.
Law enforcement agencies must also address the financial, technological and cross-border networks that allow scam operations to continue, including the movement of illicit funds and the use of digital communications.
What the Phnom Penh Declaration Could Cover
Based on the statements released ahead of adoption, the declaration is expected to focus on seven broad areas:
- International cooperation
- Information and intelligence sharing
- Capacity building
- Online scam prevention
- Law enforcement cooperation
- Victim protection
- Coordinated international responses
The precise wording and commitments of the declaration will only be known after it is formally adopted.
Angkor Times Analysis
The Phnom Penh conference marks a shift from treating online scams primarily as a domestic law enforcement issue toward a broader transnational organised crime challenge.
The government’s reported figures show the scale of its enforcement campaign: more than US$300 million in bank accounts frozen, 446 cases involving 3,927 suspects sent to court, 832 suspected locations inspected and 86 major scam compounds taken under control.
At the same time, these figures should be distinguished from claims about the complete eradication of online scams. The government itself has warned that criminal groups may adapt by moving into smaller and less visible operations.
The proposed declaration could therefore be significant if it translates broad commitments into practical mechanisms for real-time information sharing, cross-border investigations, financial intelligence cooperation, victim protection and coordinated enforcement.
The conference also places Cambodia's anti-scam campaign under greater international scrutiny. International participation from organisations including INTERPOL and UNODC creates a forum for cooperation but also places greater importance on measurable implementation after the declaration is adopted.
The immediate outcome will be the declaration itself on September 24. Its longer-term significance will depend on how participating countries implement the commitments and whether cooperation produces concrete results against the financial and criminal networks behind online scams.
Key Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Conference | International Conference on Combating Online Scams |
| Dates | September 23–24, 2026 |
| Location | Phnom Penh |
| Theme | Acting Together Towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams |
| Countries represented | 27 |
| International organisations | 7 |
| Journalists | 347 from 69 media organisations |
| Declaration | Expected September 24 |
| Funds frozen | More than US$300 million |
| Cases sent to court | 446 |
| Suspects in court cases | 3,927 |
| Suspected locations inspected | 832 |
| Locations subject to crackdown operations | 663 |
| Major scam compounds taken under control | 86 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Phnom Penh Declaration on Combating Online Scams?
It is a proposed joint declaration intended to strengthen international cooperation against online scams, including information sharing, capacity building, prevention, law enforcement and victim protection.
When will the declaration be adopted?
It is expected to be adopted on September 24, 2026, the final day of the two day international conference.
How many countries are attending the conference?
According to AKP, delegates from 27 nations are participating, along with representatives from seven international organisations.
How much money has Cambodia frozen in accounts linked to online scams?
CCOS reports that authorities froze more than US$300 million in bank accounts linked to online scam crimes between July 2025 and August 31, 2026.
How many suspected scam locations were inspected?
Cambodian authorities report inspecting 832 suspected locations and launching crackdown operations at 663 of them.
How many major scam compounds were taken under control?
Authorities report taking control of 86 major scam compounds, with legal procedures for confiscation underway.
Has Cambodia said all online scams have been eliminated?
The Prime Minister said that large scam compounds no longer exist within Cambodia, while also warning that criminal networks may adapt by fragmenting into smaller and decentralised operations.