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• 1 hour ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Phnom Penh to Host Global Conference on Ending Online Scams
Phnom Penh — Sept. 21, 2026: Cambodia will host the International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026) on Sept. 23-24, 2026, in Phnom Penh, convening governments, international organisations, law enforcement, financial institutions, technology firms and academia under the theme "Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scam."
The conference will be held under the high patronage of Prime Minister Hun Manet, the Ministry of Information announced.
According to organisers, ICCOS-2026 is designed to deepen understanding of the evolving online scam ecosystem, strengthen international cooperation, coordination and multi-stakeholder partnerships, and promote the exchange of experiences and best practices.
"Online scams are a complex transnational challenge that no country can tackle alone," the conference statement said. "By working together, sharing knowledge, and enhancing our partnerships, we can break the chain of online scams, eradicate criminal networks, protect our citizens, and build a safer and more secure digital environment for all."
Organisers added: "Through our collective commitment and partnership, we can overcome even the greatest challenge," extending a warm welcome to participants in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The event comes as Cambodia seeks to reposition itself in the global fight against transnational cybercrime. H.E. Chhay Sinarith, Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Technology-Enabled Scams, told a gathering of about 50 ambassadors and representatives of international organisations in August that Cambodia no longer hosts large-scale online scam centres following a comprehensive clearance operation.
The campaign, conducted from mid-2025 to August 2026, combined legal enforcement against offenders and networks with action against officials accused of complicity. Fifteen senior officials and law enforcement officers were arrested or removed, including a deputy prosecutor, a deputy immigration chief, a deputy Phnom Penh police chief and a former foreign ministry director-general.
Cambodia also extradited two prominent businessmen to China — Chen Zhi of Prince Holding Group in January 2026 and Li Xiong of Huione Group in April 2026 — in what officials described as a strategic blow to the financial and money-laundering infrastructure of transnational criminal networks.
At the same time, authorities acknowledge that the crime has not been eradicated. Criminal groups have dispersed into smaller operations, renting condominiums, cafes and vehicles to conceal their activities within communities. In a recent operation in Koh Kong province, police arrested 33 Chinese nationals and seized more than 700 phones from a rental property.
Cambodia is preparing new legislation on cybersecurity, cybercrime and virtual asset management. Under the planned framework, scam masterminds could face life imprisonment and the seizure of assets as state property.
Officials said the ICCOS conference will provide a platform for sharing experiences, showcasing best practices and strengthening international cooperation, while pressing for genuine global political will to end technology-enabled scams. The government has also pledged continued openness to international cooperation.
Source:
Ministry of Information
H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information
International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026)
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The conference will be held under the high patronage of Prime Minister Hun Manet, the Ministry of Information announced.
According to organisers, ICCOS-2026 is designed to deepen understanding of the evolving online scam ecosystem, strengthen international cooperation, coordination and multi-stakeholder partnerships, and promote the exchange of experiences and best practices.
"Online scams are a complex transnational challenge that no country can tackle alone," the conference statement said. "By working together, sharing knowledge, and enhancing our partnerships, we can break the chain of online scams, eradicate criminal networks, protect our citizens, and build a safer and more secure digital environment for all."
Organisers added: "Through our collective commitment and partnership, we can overcome even the greatest challenge," extending a warm welcome to participants in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The event comes as Cambodia seeks to reposition itself in the global fight against transnational cybercrime. H.E. Chhay Sinarith, Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Technology-Enabled Scams, told a gathering of about 50 ambassadors and representatives of international organisations in August that Cambodia no longer hosts large-scale online scam centres following a comprehensive clearance operation.
The campaign, conducted from mid-2025 to August 2026, combined legal enforcement against offenders and networks with action against officials accused of complicity. Fifteen senior officials and law enforcement officers were arrested or removed, including a deputy prosecutor, a deputy immigration chief, a deputy Phnom Penh police chief and a former foreign ministry director-general.
Cambodia also extradited two prominent businessmen to China — Chen Zhi of Prince Holding Group in January 2026 and Li Xiong of Huione Group in April 2026 — in what officials described as a strategic blow to the financial and money-laundering infrastructure of transnational criminal networks.
At the same time, authorities acknowledge that the crime has not been eradicated. Criminal groups have dispersed into smaller operations, renting condominiums, cafes and vehicles to conceal their activities within communities. In a recent operation in Koh Kong province, police arrested 33 Chinese nationals and seized more than 700 phones from a rental property.
Cambodia is preparing new legislation on cybersecurity, cybercrime and virtual asset management. Under the planned framework, scam masterminds could face life imprisonment and the seizure of assets as state property.
Officials said the ICCOS conference will provide a platform for sharing experiences, showcasing best practices and strengthening international cooperation, while pressing for genuine global political will to end technology-enabled scams. The government has also pledged continued openness to international cooperation.
Source:
Ministry of Information
H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information
International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026)
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
