Cambodia Hosts Global Conference on Online Scam Crackdown With US, China and UK Attending

Cambodia has opened a major international conference in Phnom Penh aimed at strengthening global cooperation against cross-border online fraud. The International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026) brings together delegates from the United States, China, the United Kingdom and other nations, along with representatives from the FBI, INTERPOL and several international organizations.

The two-day event, taking place on September 23-24 at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, is being held under the theme “Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams.” It gathers government officials, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, technology firms and other stakeholders to share experiences and coordinate joint action against increasingly sophisticated scam networks.

Government highlights crackdown results

During the conference, the Cambodian government highlighted its ongoing nationwide campaign against technology-enabled fraud, saying it has already achieved substantial results but that deeper international collaboration is essential to dismantle criminal groups operating across borders.

According to Cambodia’s Commission for Combating Technology-enabled Scams (CCTC), authorities dismantled 86 scam compounds between July 2024 and August 2026 and closed 27 casinos connected to large-scale online fraud operations.

The commission reported that 446 cases involving 3,527 suspects of 29 different nationalities are currently before the courts. Officials have also screened and assisted in the repatriation of around 22,000 foreign nationals from 38 countries.

Authorities have seized approximately $300 million from bank accounts linked to the crackdown, with investigations into additional assets and properties still underway.

Call for coordinated international action

The government described online scams as a transnational crime that demands a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The CCTC was created to coordinate enforcement, improve cooperation between institutions and close loopholes that allow scam operations to function across borders.

Officials said the national strategy focuses on strengthening the legal framework, tightening law enforcement, enhancing inter-agency coordination and expanding regional and international partnerships to ensure Cambodia is not used as a hub for technology-based fraud.

The campaign is supported by the Law on Anti-Technology-Driven Fraud, which came into force in April. The law provides for tough penalties, including life imprisonment in serious cases, and applies not only to ringleaders and accomplices but also to property owners and others who knowingly enable such crimes.

The government said the effort aims to break up criminal networks, protect victims, improve digital security and contribute to broader international efforts to combat online scams.