National
Cambodia to Host International Conference on Combating Online Scams in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh— Sept. 21, 2026: Cambodia will host the International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026) in Phnom Penh from Sept. 23 to 24, 2026, 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, according to Minister of Information H.E. Neth Pheaktra.
ICCOS-2026 brings together governments, international organisations, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, technology companies, academia and other stakeholders to exchange experiences, share best practices and strengthen collective efforts to deal with the growing global threat of online scams.
Organisers describe online scams as a complex transnational challenge that no country can tackle alone. "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," the conference statement said.
The conference aims 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. "Through our collective commitment and partnership, we can overcome even the greatest challenge," organisers said, extending a warm welcome to participants arriving in the Kingdom.
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 about 50 ambassadors and international organisation representatives in August that Cambodia no longer has large-scale online scam centres following a comprehensive clearance operation.
The campaign, running 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 — including a deputy prosecutor, a deputy immigration chief, a deputy Phnom Penh police chief and a former foreign ministry director-general — were arrested or removed from their posts.
Cambodia also extradited two influential businessmen to China: Chen Zhi, chairman of Prince Holding Group, in January 2026, and Li Xiong, chairman of Huione Group, in April 2026. Officials described the moves as strategic successes that dismantled key financial and money-laundering pillars of transnational criminal networks.
Authorities acknowledge the crime has not been eradicated. Criminal groups have shifted to smaller-scale operations, renting individual condos, cafes or operating from mobile vehicles to blend in with communities. In a recent operation in Koh Kong province, authorities arrested 33 Chinese nationals and seized more than 700 phones from an ordinary rental property.
Cambodia is preparing additional legislation, including draft laws on cybersecurity, cybercrime and virtual asset management. Under the planned framework, scam masterminds could face penalties up to life imprisonment and the confiscation of all assets as state property.
Source:
Ministry of Information — https://www.information.gov.kh/articles/202297
H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information — https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18EoRzs4Tt/?mibextid=wwXIfr
International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026)
Reported by The Khmer Today
