Cambodia has frozen more than US$300 million in bank accounts linked to online scam crimes and sent 446 cases involving 3,927 suspects to court, marking a major escalation in the country’s campaign against technology enabled fraud.
The figures, released by the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), cover law enforcement operations conducted from July 2025 through August 31, 2026. The campaign has focused on disrupting scam networks, cutting off their financial flows and bringing those involved before the courts.
Cambodia’s latest crackdown is targeting online scam networks on multiple fronts, from freezing criminal proceeds and dismantling major compounds to prosecuting suspects, addressing official involvement and tightening action against casinos linked to illegal activities.
More Than US$300 Million in Scam Linked Funds Frozen
Authorities have frozen more than US$300 million held in bank accounts connected to online scam crimes. Other assets believed to be linked to scam operations are also undergoing further freezing procedures and valuation.
The measures are intended to strike at the financial foundations of criminal networks rather than focusing solely on individual perpetrators. According to the CCOS Secretariat, the actions demonstrate the authorities’ firm enforcement of the law and their efforts to cut off the financial flows and proceeds generated by online scam networks.
For businesses, investors and property operators, the crackdown also highlights the growing importance of compliance and due diligence when dealing with financial transactions, properties and commercial activities that could potentially be connected to illicit operations.
446 Cases Involving Nearly 4,000 Suspects Sent to Court
Judicial proceedings are continuing, with authorities preparing and submitting 446 cases involving 3,927 accused persons from 29 nationalities to the courts. The cases include alleged masterminds as well as accomplices involved in online scam activities.
The authorities have also pursued cases involving officials accused of participating in scam related activities. Four cases involving 15 suspects have been handled, including a deputy prosecutor, a deputy director general of immigration, a deputy Phnom Penh municipal police commissioner, a former director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as police and military officials.
The action against officials signals that the campaign extends beyond criminal networks themselves and includes individuals within state institutions who are found to have been involved.
Authorities Inspected 832 Suspected Locations
Specialised law enforcement forces operating under government directives inspected 832 suspected locations and carried out crackdown operations at 663 of them.
Authorities also dismantled and took control of 86 major scam compounds. Competent authorities are now undertaking legal procedures toward their confiscation in accordance with the law.
The CCOS Secretariat stressed that “there are currently no large-scale online scam crime locations remaining in Cambodia.”
That statement represents a significant development in the campaign, but authorities also acknowledged that the threat has not disappeared entirely. Scam operations are continuing in smaller and more concealed settings, making detection increasingly dependent on timely information and cooperation.
Smaller Scam Operations Remain a Challenge
According to the Secretariat, some scam activities have shifted into less visible environments, including rented rooms, guesthouses, condominiums, houses, vehicles and coffee shops.
This change creates a different enforcement challenge. Rather than relying only on large compounds that can be identified and targeted through major operations, authorities must also identify smaller networks operating from ordinary residential and commercial locations.
The Secretariat therefore called for greater cooperation and active participation from relevant parties and the public. It urged people to monitor and report suspected locations so authorities can investigate and take timely action.
Nearly 30,000 Suspects Detained
During the crackdown, authorities detained nearly 30,000 suspects representing 39 nationalities, according to the report.
Law enforcement agencies also assisted in rescuing and repatriating more than 22,000 foreign nationals from 38 nationalities. The figures reflect the international dimension of Cambodia’s online scam problem, with people from numerous countries becoming involved in or affected by scam operations operating within the country.
The combination of arrests, prosecutions, rescues and repatriations shows that the campaign is addressing both the criminal networks and the people found inside suspected scam operations.
Casinos Face Tougher Scrutiny
The crackdown has also extended to casinos linked to online scam crimes. Authorities took legal action against 27 casinos, revoking the licences of 18 and suspending the licences of nine others.
Authorities said strict inspections will continue, with legal action to be taken against casinos found to be illegally operating gambling or online sports betting activities.
For Cambodia’s tourism and investment sectors, the measures carry broader significance. Casinos and other entertainment businesses operate within a regulated commercial environment, and enforcement against illegal activities is intended to distinguish legitimate investment and tourism operations from businesses associated with criminal activity.
Cambodia Signals Continued Enforcement
The reported results reflect law enforcement efforts under Cambodia’s national campaign against online scams. The government has indicated that the campaign will continue, with competent authorities conducting investigations, crackdowns and legal procedures aimed at eradicating such crimes from the country.
The scale of the reported financial freezes, court cases, inspections, arrests and casino enforcement demonstrates that the campaign is being pursued across several areas at once. Financial disruption, criminal prosecution, property control and public cooperation are all becoming important components of the response.
Cambodian authorities have again urged the public and relevant parties to provide information or leads concerning suspected scam locations. Such information, they said, will help law enforcement agencies respond quickly and effectively.
Conclusion
Cambodia’s latest online scam crackdown shows a shift from isolated enforcement actions toward a broader campaign targeting the people, money, locations and businesses connected to criminal networks. Freezing more than US$300 million, sending 446 cases to court and taking control of 86 major scam compounds represent substantial enforcement measures.
Yet the continued emergence of smaller and more concealed operations means the challenge remains. Sustained investigations, effective prosecution, financial controls and public cooperation will be critical if Cambodia is to turn the latest crackdown into lasting progress against online scam crimes.