(Phnom Penh): The International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026) concluded in Phnom Penh on Thursday (Sep. 24), marking an important step in strengthening international cooperation against technology-enabled fraud and transnational criminal networks.

Hosted by the Royal Government of Cambodia on September 23-24 under the theme “Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams,” the two-day conference brought together governments, international organisations, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, technology companies and other stakeholders to discuss coordinated responses to the rapidly evolving global threat of online scams.

The conference attracted delegations from 27 countries and seven international organisations, underscoring the international scope of efforts to tackle a form of crime that increasingly crosses national borders, jurisdictions and financial systems.

The conference was co-sponsored by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (UNODC-ROSEAP), and the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center (LMLECC).

Discussions centred on three main objectives: deepening understanding of the evolving online scam ecosystem, strengthening international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships, and exchanging experiences and best practices.

The international conference also called for stronger cooperation in information sharing, financial investigations, prevention, law enforcement, victim protection and capacity building. It reflected Cambodia's push to translate international commitments into practical and measurable action.

Cambodia said the purpose of hosting ICCOS was therefore to bring together the commitment, experience and capabilities of countries, international organisations, law enforcement agencies, the financial sector and technology companies to develop practical and coordinated measures against the threat.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who presided over the opening ceremony on 23 September 2026, reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to continuing its crackdown on online scam operations and called for international action targeting entire criminal networks rather than only frontline operations.

In his keynote address, Samdech Thipadeo proposed five priorities for stronger international cooperation: real-time intelligence sharing, advanced financial investigations, greater compatibility between legal and operational frameworks, stronger public-private partnerships, and enhanced protection for victims.

Cambodia's experience has shown that closing physical scam locations alone may not eliminate the criminal networks operating behind them, the premier said. Authorities have therefore emphasised financial investigations, tracing illicit financial flows, identifying beneficiaries and preventing dismantled networks from reorganising in new forms.

The Cambodian government also presented the results of its nationwide crackdown. As of August 31, authorities had inspected 832 suspected locations and taken action against 663 sites. Eighty-six large-scale scam compounds had been raided and dismantled, while 446 cases involving 3,927 suspects had been referred to court. More than USD 300 million in bank accounts linked to scam activities had also been frozen. Authorities said sustained investigations and monitoring would therefore remain necessary to prevent criminal networks from re-emerging.
=FRESH NEWS