(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the online scam industry did not originate in Cambodia, noting that the Kingdom’s early exposure to the transnational crime was linked to the growth of online gambling and casino-related businesses.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet made the remarks in his keynote address at the opening of the International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS) in Phnom Penh.

“The online scam industry did not begin in Cambodia. And it is not confined to Cambodia,” the premier said. “Cambodia’s early exposure was linked to the growth of online gambling and casino-related businesses.”

He added that criminal networks have rapidly evolved and adapted across borders, exploiting commercial properties, regulatory gaps and complex cross-border telecommunications networks to establish sophisticated transnational scam ecosystems.

Samdech Thipadei underlined that Cambodia takes full responsibility for securing its borders, enforcing its laws and safeguarding the integrity of its national jurisdiction.

“Accountability must be proven through uncompromising internal action,” he said, highlighting the establishment of the national-level Commission on Combating Online Scams (CCOS) under his direct leadership in February 2025.

The premier also pointed to the enactment of the Law on Combating Online Scams in April 2026, which he said closed legal loopholes and enabled Cambodia to pursue a unified, whole-of-government and whole-of-society campaign aimed at dismantling scam networks.

“To fortify our national defense against future cyber threats, Cambodia is accelerating the development of specialized legislation, including the forthcoming Cybersecurity Law, Cybercrime Law, and frameworks governing virtual assets. Moreover, Cambodia last year became a signatory state of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime,” the premier underscored.

On the occasion, Samdech Thipadei underscored that international partnerships remain essential to combating online scams and expressed appreciation to Cambodia’s partners and law enforcement agencies from China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, ASEAN member states and other partner countries.

He also acknowledged the cooperation of international organisations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
=FRESH NEWS