Cambodia vows to eliminate online scam havens amid international pressure

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet addressed an anti-fraud summit, asserting that Cambodia will never be a safe haven for cyber-scams and citing the complete removal of light-scale scam compounds in a major crackdown launched the previous year. He rejected claims that the operation was merely a public-relations effort, stressing a lasting goal of eradicating criminal networks and preventing their return. The crackdown follows pressure from key allies such as China and the United States, which have long accused the country of enabling lucrative scam centres.

UNODC regional representative Delphine Schantz praised the steps taken but called for more action at national, regional and international levels, while Chinese vice minister of public security Yang Weilin highlighted the need to fully root out fraud breeding grounds. U.S. officials, including FBI official Stephen Flores and Director Kash Patel, stressed the importance of trust-based partnerships and increased accountability for high-level scam leaders. Analysts caution that the financial and logistical infrastructure of the scam industry remains largely intact, allowing operators to regroup elsewhere.