28 countries sign ‘Phnom Penh Declaration’ to fight online scams
A two-day international conference ended with an 11-point plan against scam networks, but the plan is voluntary and there is no agreement yet on who will pay for it.
Cambodia hosted an international conference on online scams on 23–24 September that ended with the adoption of the "Phnom Penh Declaration", a joint plan to fight the criminal networks behind online fraud.
Twenty-eight countries and seven international organisations took part, with more than 600 people attending.
What the declaration says
The declaration contains 11 points. They include stronger international cooperation, breaking up criminal chains, recovering stolen money, using new technology, improving laws, training officials, working with private companies, and protecting victims — including people trafficked into scam compounds, who should not be punished for crimes they were forced to commit.
However, the points are voluntary and not legally binding. Each country will apply them according to its own laws.
Money still to be decided
The plan does not yet set out how countries will work together in practice or how the effort will be funded. Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said that "discussions regarding financial matters are to be held at a later date."
Secretary of State Keng Somarith said the problem affects everyone. "This scam is not discriminatory to regions and areas. We need collective action," he said.
Crackdown in numbers
According to figures shared at the event, Cambodian authorities have so far:
- inspected 832 suspected scam locations
- detained 3,927 suspects
- sent 446 case files to court
- deported 22,142 foreign nationals from 38 countries
Source: Cambodianess
