Brussel - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged that online scam centers have damaged the country's reputation and disrupted the legitimate economy.
In a rare interview with Agence France-Presse (AF) during his visit to Brussels on Thursday, 26 February 2025, Hun Manet described the extensive cyber fraud network as part of the “dark economy” that is damaging tourism and foreign investment for the Southeast Asia country. He also rejected claims that Cambodia's economy depends on illegal activities.
“The fraud network, which we call the dark economy, is destroying our honest economy. It has tarnished Cambodia's reputation. This is why we need to clean it up. Yes, fraud centers may generate immediate results for property, investment, construction, purchases, and ways to create such centers. However, most of the proceeds do not go to the Cambodian government,” he said.
On the same day, Cambodian authorities revealed that crackdowns on online scam complexes have reduced activity by half since the beginning of this year, as they face international pressure to dismantle networks accused of stealing billions of dollars each year from people around the world.
“The issue of online fraud has decreased to just 50 percent,” said Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, chairman of the Secretariat of the Commission for the Suppression of Technology-Related Crime, on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
The commitment to crack down fraud centers is a key element of a ceasefire agreement, signed by Cambodia and Thailand, to end a second round of armed conflict along their disputed border.
Cambodia has come under pressure from countries, including China and the US, as well as human rights groups, to take tougher action against fraud centers that have proliferated since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Criminal syndicates are accused of operating online investment scams, romance scams, and illegal gambling operations. Authorities said that they have conducted dozens of raids on sites suspected of fraud and deported thousands of foreign nationals.***
