Cambodia widens fraud probe as critics question effectiveness of crackdown

At a global anti‑scam summit in Phnom Penh, anti‑fraud commission chief Chhay Sinarith said the country is collecting proof against alleged architects of massive cyber‑fraud schemes and that cooperation with international partners has already led to arrests. Prime Minister Hun Manet told the summit that Cambodia will never be a safe haven for online scams and dismissed claims that the operation is merely a public‑relations effort.

Critics contend that the year‑long crackdown has not dismantled high‑level figures or the underlying money‑laundering infrastructure, noting that many large scam sites appear to still operate in a decentralized manner. ASEAN officials continue to push integrated cross‑border action to dismantle online scam networks, citing the repatriation of Indonesians caught up in the schemes.