Cambodia Enacts Tough New Law in Landmark Crackdown on Online Scam Centers
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Cambodia has formally drafted its first dedicated legislation to combat the sprawling online scam industry that has long tarnished the nation’s reputation and ensnared victims worldwide. The move, announced Friday, follows a government pledge to dismantle these criminal operations by the end of April. The new law, approved by the Cabinet, establishes severe penalties for those running technology fraud sites and explicitly addresses the horrific human trafficking elements that often fuel these “scam factories.”
Stiff Penalties Targeting Organizers and Traffickers
The legislation creates a strict legal framework with graduated punishments. For organizing or directing an online fraud operation, offenders face five to ten years in prison and fines ranging from 500 million to 1 billion riels (approximately $125,000 to $250,000). The penalties escalate dramatically for crimes involving human trafficking, violence, or detention—a common reality for many forced to work in these centers—with sentences of 10 to 20 years and fines up to 2 billion riels ($500,000). In the most severe cases, where a death is linked to a scam center—such as those occurring during escape attempts—the offense carries a sentence of 15 to 30 years, or life imprisonment. The law now requires parliamentary approval to become enforceable.
A Nationwide Crackdown and Mass Repatriations
This legal action accompanies an ongoing, aggressive physical crackdown. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, who leads the Commission for Combating Online Scams, told The Associated Press that since July, authorities have raided 250 suspected scam locations, shutting down approximately 200 of them. The government has filed 79 criminal cases involving 697 alleged ringleaders and associates. A significant part of the effort has focused on rescuing foreign nationals tricked into the work. Cambodia has repatriated nearly 10,000 scam center workers from 23 countries, with fewer than 1,000 remaining in government custody awaiting return. Many others have escaped or been released and have made their own way home.
Government Stance and Persistent Skepticism
Information Minister Neth Pheaktra framed the law as essential for Cambodia’s sovereignty and global standing. “This law is the most important legal instrument for Cambodia in combating scams online, fighting money laundering and demonstrating that Cambodia is not a paradise or a safe haven for criminals,” he stated. He emphasized that the government “does not receive any revenue from these activities” and that its efforts aim to protect the national economy and reputation from damage.
However, experts familiar with Cambodia’s persistent cybercrime problem urge caution. Past crackdowns have often proven temporary, with operations simply relocating or rebranding. Jacob Sims, an expert on transnational crime and a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Asia Center, warned that the critical test remains unaddressed. “The real question is whether this effort targets the system that enables the industry, not just the buildings where scams happen,” Sims said. “Past crackdowns in Cambodia have often left the financial and protection networks intact, allowing operations to quickly reconstitute.”
The scale of the problem is immense. Globally, victims of these investment and romance scams are estimated to lose tens of billions of dollars annually. The new law represents Cambodia’s most comprehensive attempt yet to sever both the financial lifelines and the brutal human trafficking chains that sustain this illicit economy. Its ultimate success, however, will depend on consistent enforcement and dismantling the deeper networks of corruption and complicity that have historically shielded the industry.
—Sopheng Cheang, Associated Press
Associated Press writer Grant Peck in Bangkok contributed to this report.
