Cambodian businessman and senator Ly Yong Phat has publicly declared his personal backing for the government's effort to eliminate online fraud, calling technology-driven scams a serious cross-border crime that endangers citizens, lawful commerce and the country's standing abroad.

He said he supports the state's policies and strong actions without conditions, including measures aimed at closing all places and groups used for tech-enabled fraud inside Cambodia.

Ly Yong Phat said he has no tolerance for online scam activity under any circumstances and welcomed the two-day International Conference on Combating Online Scams, which began in Phnom Penh on 23 September under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet.

He warned that the problem harms ordinary people, damages legitimate business conditions, reduces confidence among investors and tarnishes Cambodia's image. As a domestic investor, he said he is prepared to work with authorities, police and international partners to protect the public, defend the nation's reputation and help build a cleaner digital economy.

Government message on accountability

His stance reflects a key point made by Hun Manet in his opening remarks: investors, landlords, recruiters and other commercial figures should help stop criminal groups from hiding behind legitimate operations.

The prime minister said Cambodia should not be treated as a refuge for scam operations and that syndicates must not be allowed to endanger the country's development and the livelihoods of more than 17 million people.

He also noted that the problem did not begin in Cambodia and is not limited to its territory. According to him, accountability must be demonstrated through firm domestic action.

He said laws designed to fight scams need to reach entire criminal networks, including organizers, financiers, recruiters, property owners and others who knowingly support their activities.

Cambodia created a Commission on Combating Online Scams under the prime minister's direct authority in February 2025 and passed a law against online scams in April 2026.

Hun Manet said the government treats enforcement as an ongoing national security duty rather than a public relations effort. He announced that every major scam compound in Cambodia had been broken up, while cautioning that syndicates are trying to shift toward smaller and more distributed setups.

Personal history of allegations

Ly Yong Phat's support has added personal significance because he has previously denied Thai media claims connecting him and his companies to suspected cybercrime and money laundering.

In a November 2025 interview, he rejected reports that Thai authorities had searched 36 properties and frozen assets valued at 400 million baht, about $12.3 million, over suspected links to online scams.

He said he had run legal casino enterprises for more than 20 years and that some buildings were later rented to third parties after those businesses closed during the pandemic.

He also stated that he does not operate scam centers, that he built his company through his own effort and that he has consistently contributed to Cambodia's growth.