International Conference on Combating Online Scams Officially Kicks Off

The two-day International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026), under the theme “Acting Together Towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams,” officially kicked off this morning in Phnom Penh under the presidency of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The event brought together delegates from over 20 countries, including representatives from countries in the region, Africa, Europe, China and the United States, as well as representatives of the International Criminal Police Organisation (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 and Security Cooperation Centre (LMLECC).

In his welcome remarks, H.E. Chhay Sinarith, Senior Minister in charge of Special Mission and Head of the Secretariat of the Ad-Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), said that Cambodia is not the origin of online scams, but has been exploited as one of the locations where transnational criminal networks conduct scam activities.

Foreign transnational criminal networks have used Cambodian territory to conduct online scams targeting victims in other countries, including Cambodian citizens, he underlined.

He noted that the negative impacts of online scams have been felt across various sectors, including national security and public order, tourism, investment and the overall economy, as well as Cambodia’s reputation, image and dignity on the international stage. Those involved in scam operations come from different countries, while the losses and consequences arising from such activities have also affected Cambodia as a victim country.

Online scam operations are complex crimes that are often intertwined with other illicit activities, including human trafficking and money laundering, and are orchestrated by organised criminal groups.

In light of this, the Royal Government of Cambodia has initiated the international conference to openly demonstrate its commitment and determination to combat these crimes and to reaffirm its readiness to cooperate with various partners in addressing this growing transnational threat, he said.

“Online scam crimes are occurring across the globe and throughout the region. Therefore, only through our collective efforts can we prevent, disrupt and eradicate these transnational criminal networks,” H.E. Chhay Sinarith said.

“Cambodia stands ready to fulfill its duties and provide full cooperation with all countries and institutions as a partner, based on the principles of mutual respect, respect for sovereignty and compliance with national laws,” he added.

This international conference attracted a total of 340 national and international journalists from 66 local and foreign media organisations.

According to the CCOS, from July 2025 through Aug. 31, 2026, Cambodia has frozen more than US$300 million in bank accounts linked to online scam crimes, while 446 cases involving 3,927 suspects have been sent to court.

Authorities have also taken legal action against officials found to be involved in online scam activities. Four cases involving 15 suspects have been handled, 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 report added that specialised law enforcement forces, acting under the Government’s directives, inspected 832 suspected locations and launched crackdown operations at 663 of them.
Among these, authorities cracked down on and took control of 86 major scam compounds, with competent authorities currently undertaking legal procedures for their confiscation in accordance with the law. -AKP-

By Heng Panha