Cambodia Approves Draft Law Targeting Cyberscammers with Harsh Penalties
Phnom Penh moves to criminalise multi-billion-dollar fraud industry as crackdown intensifies
PHNOM PENH — March 13, 2026 — Cambodia’s government approved a draft law on Friday that will impose severe prison sentences and substantial fines on individuals operating cyberscam networks, as authorities seek to dismantle the multi-billion-dollar fraud industry that has tarnished the nation’s reputation .
The draft legislation, formally titled the “Anti-Technology Fraud” law, was endorsed during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet and will now proceed to parliament for final approval . Information Minister Neth Pheaktra confirmed that the bill aims to “eliminate online scams from Cambodian territory” .
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“Cambodia is not a paradise or a safe haven for criminals,” Neth Pheaktra told reporters following the cabinet meeting, emphasising that the government’s crackdown on scam operations will continue with renewed legal backing .
The legislation introduces tiered penalties based on the severity of offences. Ringleaders of cyberscam centres will face between five and ten years imprisonment and fines of up to one billion riels (approximately US$246,000) . Where operations involve violence, torture, unlawful confinement, human trafficking, or forced labour, sentences increase to 10-20 years with fines up to two billion riels (US$492,000) .
For offences resulting in one or more deaths, convicted individuals face 15 to 30 years imprisonment or life sentences . Even lower-level operatives working within organised scam networks could receive five to ten year sentences and fines of up to one billion riels if their activities involve numerous victims .
Cambodian officials have confirmed that the draft law also establishes legal liability for property owners who lease premises to scam syndicates, as well as individuals involved in recruiting personnel for fraudulent operations . Public officials found to be providing protection or庇护 to scam operations will face criminal prosecution .
Industrial-Scale Criminal Enterprise
Cambodia has emerged as a significant hub for transnational cyber fraud, with crime syndicates operating sophisticated schemes that target internet users globally through fake romantic relationships, bogus cryptocurrency investments, and other online deceptions .
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the cyberscam industry concentrated largely in Southeast Asia has reached “industrial proportions,” with estimated annual revenues reaching as high as US$64 billion . The UN body has documented that hundreds of thousands of individuals working in these operations across the region include both voluntary participants and trafficking victims held against their will and subjected to forced labour .
A 2024 report by the United States Institute of Peace estimated that cyberscam operations based in Cambodia generate annual returns exceeding US$12.5 billion—equivalent to approximately half the country’s formal gross domestic product . Prime Minister Hun Manet has, however, rejected suggestions that Cambodia’s economy depends on illicit scam activities .
Government’s Zero-Tolerance Stance
Speaking to AFP in a rare interview last month, Hun Manet declared that scam centres were “destroying” the country’s economy and damaging its international standing, vowing to “clean this out” completely . The prime minister has characterised cyber fraud as “black economy” activity that undermines Cambodia’s legitimate economic foundations and discourages investment and tourism .
Chhay Sinarith, a senior minister serving as secretary-general of the National Committee for Combating Online Scams, told AFP this week that authorities aim to close all online scam centres by the end of April 2026 . He confirmed that since a government crackdown began in July 2025, authorities have shut down approximately 250 scam sites and 91 casinos linked to fraudulent operations .
More than 200,000 individuals have fled scam compounds and departed Cambodia during the enforcement campaign, according to official figures, while approximately 10,000 foreign nationals have been deported . Cambodian judicial authorities have formally charged 679 suspects involved in scam operations .
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International Cooperation and Criticism
The law enforcement push achieved what officials describe as its most significant success in January with the arrest of Chinese-born tycoon Chen Zhi, who was subsequently extradited to China to face prosecution over alleged large-scale scam operations . The case highlighted growing cooperation between Cambodian and Chinese authorities in tackling transnational cybercrime .
Chhay Sinarith emphasised that Cambodia is pursuing international partnerships, particularly with China, through information sharing and joint investigations . He noted that the draft law has been designed to align with the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, which Cambodia has previously signed, facilitating cross-border cooperation in tracking criminal networks operating across multiple jurisdictions .
However, some analysts have characterised previous enforcement actions as superficial “window-dressing” intended to improve Cambodia’s international image rather than fundamentally dismantle entrenched criminal enterprises . The government has rejected such criticism, pointing to the scale of recent operations and the impending legislation as evidence of genuine commitment.
Legislative Process and Implementation
The draft law received preliminary approval from an inter-ministerial technical committee in February following extensive review by the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economy and Finance, National Bank of Cambodia, and various law enforcement agencies . Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Keut Rith chaired those technical sessions, which aimed to ensure the legislation’s comprehensiveness and effectiveness .
With the ruling Cambodian People’s Party holding overwhelming majorities in both houses of parliament, the legislation is expected to pass smoothly and receive royal assent in the coming weeks . Once enacted, the law will serve as Cambodia’s primary legal instrument for prosecuting technology-based fraud and strengthening rule of law in the digital sphere .
Chhay Sinarith indicated that authorities will conduct assessments of provincial enforcement after the April deadline, with officials found negligent or complicit facing administrative sanctions and potentially criminal prosecution .
“We must continue to intensify enforcement efforts to prevent scam syndicates from using Cambodia as a base for transnational fraud, and to ensure that citizens of all countries, including China, are no longer victimised,” he said in an interview this week .
Some scam operations have attempted to adapt by adopting more隐蔽 operational methods, which Chhay Sinarith acknowledged, adding: “They hide like rats. We will pull all the rats out of their holes. Regardless of size, any operation involved in fraud will be firmly investigated and eliminated” .
Regional and Global Context
Cambodia’s legislative move comes amid broader regional efforts to combat transnational cyber fraud, with neighbouring countries also intensifying enforcement against scam centres operating along borders and in special economic zones.
Chhay Sinarith revealed that Cambodia is preparing to host an international summit focused on combating cyber fraud, positioning the country as a convenor for regional cooperation on the issue . He acknowledged that foreign nationals have sometimes developed misconceptions about Cambodia due to the scam industry’s prominence, but stressed that the country itself is a victim of these criminal networks .
“We must restore our national image and show the international community that Cambodia is not a base for criminal syndicates,” he said .
The draft law represents a significant escalation in Cambodia’s legal response to cyber-enabled crime, providing prosecutors with substantially enhanced powers to pursue cases involving complex transnational fraud operations that have proven difficult to address under existing legislation .
As the bill moves toward final enactment, international observers will be watching closely to determine whether Cambodia’s legislative ambitions translate into sustained enforcement capable of dismantling entrenched criminal networks that have flourished in recent years.
SOURCES / INPUTS
The Economic Times: Cambodia approves draft law targeting cyberscammers
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