Cambodia Hosts Global Summit After Dismantling Scam Compounds

The Government of Cambodia opened a two-day international conference on countering cyberfraud in Phnom Penh on September 23, 2026. The summit follows a year-long nationwide crackdown initiated under pressure from the governments of China and the United States to dismantle a multibillion-dollar industry run by Chinese-led criminal gangs.

As a precursor to the event, officials led journalists on September 21 to dismantled scam compounds in Svay Rieng and Prey Veng provinces. Hay Makara of the Ad-Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams reported that the government investigated 832 suspected locations and eliminated all large-scale compounds. Between July 2025 and August 2026, Cambodia deported over 22,000 individuals of 38 different nationalities. However, officials noted that criminals have shifted to decentralized, small-scale operations in rental homes and hotels.

While the government aims to showcase its commitment to security, critics and opposition figures question the credibility of the effort. Opponents argue that politically connected protectors remain untouched and that the government has not accounted for billions in stolen funds. The urgency of the crackdown is highlighted by U.S. estimates that Americans lost over US$10 billion to regional scammers in 2024.