Cambodia drafts tough law to crack down on technology-based fraud

PHNOM PENH, 20 February 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia is preparing a draft law to combat technology-based fraud, with strict penalties and enhanced enforcement measures, senior official Chhay Sinarith said Friday.

Sinarith, chairman of the Secretariat of the Ad-hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), told a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that the legislation is under inter-ministerial review before moving through the formal adoption process.

On 11 February, the Ministry of Justice convened an inter-agency meeting to provide technical input, aiming to ensure the law is comprehensive.

Officials say the legislation will establish a clear legal framework to strengthen prevention, suppression, and prosecution of technology-driven fraud, a key government priority.

The draft law has been prepared in line with United Nations conventions on cybercrime, which Cambodia has signed.

Authorities have intensified enforcement in recent months. The Anti-Technology Fraud Commission (ATFC) reported that between June 2025 and early 2026, Cambodian authorities investigated 200 online scam cases across about 2,500 locations.

More than 8,000 foreign nationals were deported, over 10,000 computers and 36,000 mobile phones were confiscated, and around 210,000 foreign nationals left the country voluntarily.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has repeatedly stressed that Cambodia will not serve as a base for cybercrime or transnational fraud, warning that individuals or organisations involved will face the full extent of the law.

The government says the new legislation, combined with existing measures, is expected to significantly reduce technology-based fraud in the country.