Cambodia has opened a major international conference in Phnom Penh focused on combating online scams, bringing together law enforcement and officials from countries including the United States, China and the United Kingdom.

The International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026) began on September 23 at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra and runs for two days until September 24. Held under the theme “Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams,” the event aims to deepen cooperation against increasingly complex cross-border fraud networks.

Global forum to boost joint action

The gathering brings together representatives from the FBI, INTERPOL and other national and international bodies, alongside government officials, police agencies, financial institutions and technology firms. Organizers said participants will share experiences and discuss ways to strengthen coordinated action against online fraud.

Cambodian officials used the opening of the conference to highlight the country's ongoing nationwide campaign against technology-enabled fraud. The government said the operation has already delivered substantial results, while emphasizing that closer international collaboration is essential to confront criminal groups that operate across borders.

Results of nationwide crackdown presented

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 networks.

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

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

The government described online scam operations as a transnational crime that demands a comprehensive response involving both state institutions and society as a whole. The CCTC was created to coordinate enforcement efforts, improve cooperation between agencies and address systemic gaps that have allowed such networks to operate internationally.

Officials said the national strategy focuses on reinforcing the legal framework, strengthening law enforcement, enhancing inter-agency coordination and expanding cooperation at the regional and global levels 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 effect in April of this year. The legislation provides for tough penalties, including life imprisonment for the most serious offences, and applies not only to organisers and accomplices but also to property owners and others who knowingly enable such crimes.

According to the government, the objective of the crackdown is to dismantle criminal networks, protect victims, enhance digital security in Cambodia and contribute to broader international efforts to curb online scams.